A Clarence Thomas Protégé Defied a Landmark Supreme Court Ruling. His Mentor Would Be Proud.

Jurisprudence

July 01, 202611:00 AM

Photo illustration by Slate. Photos by Aaron Schwartz/AFP via Getty Images and Jonathan Shorman/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images.

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If there is one thing that is clear about the authority of the federal courts, it is the simple proposition that they can act only on real cases and controversies. Put differently, they are not empowered to render “advisory opinions” and offer “nonbinding interpretation(s) of law.”