Linda Greenhouse: How the Supreme Court Lost the American Public

Since the late 1960s, Linda Greenhouse has covered the U.S. Supreme Court—and Constitutional issues generally—for the New York Times. Over 2,500 of her news reports, features, and op-eds can be accessed in the online archives of the Times or in news databases accessible to the UO community like Gale OneFile. UO students, faculty, and staff have access to the NYtimes.com and NYT mobile apps. To get started with your subscription, follow this guide on accessing the New York Times online.

Collectively, Greenhouse's coverage chronicles the history, justices, and jurisprudence of the Burger, Rehnquist, and Roberts Courts. Greenhouse's career at the Times spanned not just the most important Court decisions of the last 50 years, but historic moments like the confirmations of the first woman Justices of the Court (Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsberg), the failed nomination of Regan appointee Robert Bork, and Anita Hill's courageous appearances at the confirmation hearings for Justice Clarence Thomas.

In particular, Greenhouse has extensively covered the question of reproductive rights and the Constitution. This includes landmark coverage of the issue prior to the Court's decision in Roe v. Wade, the upholding of of Roe by Planned Parenthood v. Casey in 1992, and the state of the issue (and of the Court itself) in the wake of Roe's reversal by Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.

Greenhouse has also covered landmark decisions affecting LGBTQ+ rights, the Second Amendment, religious freedom, the War on Terror, and the results of the 2000 presidential election. A sampling of her coverage, along with the relevant Court decisions, follows bellow.

• Constitutional Question: Is There a Right to Abortion? (Jan. 25, 1970; Greenhouse's pre-Roe analysis of Constitutional arguments)
  • Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)

• High Court, 5-4, Affirms Abortion Right But Allows Most of Pennsylvania's Limits (June 30, 1992; reporting the Court's decision in Planned Parenthood v. Casey) 

  • Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pa. v. Casey, 505 U.S. 833 (1992)

• Requiem for the Supreme Court (June 24, 2022; Op-ed regarding the Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens' Health Org.)

  • Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, 597 U.S._ (2022)

• Justices, 6-3, Legalize Gay Sexual Conduct in Sweeping Reversal of Court's '86 Ruling (June 27, 2003; reporting the Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas) 
  • Lawrence v. Texas, 539 U.S. 558 (2003)

• On Same Sex Marriage, It's Too Late to "Wait-and-See" at the Supreme Court (Apr. 30, 2015; Op-ed regarding oral arguments heard in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges) 
  • Obergefell v. Hodges, 576 U.S. 644 (2015)

• Justices, Ruling 5-4, Endorse Personal Right to Own Gun (June 27, 2008; reporting the Court's decision in District of Columbia v. Heller) 
  • District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 (2008)

• Reading Hobby Lobby in Context (July 9, 2014; Op-ed regarding the Court's decision in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores) 
  • Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 573 U.S. 682 (2014)

• Justices 5-4 Back Detainee Appeals for Guantanamo (June 13, 2008; reporting the Court's decision in Boumediene v. Bush) 

  • Boumediene v. Bush, 553 U.S. 723 (2008)

• Bush Prevails; By Single Vote, Justices End Recount, Blocking Gore After 5-Week Struggle (Dec. 13, 2000; reporting the Court's decision in Bush v. Gore) 
  • Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000)

• O'Connor Hearings Open on a Note of Friendship (Sep. 10, 1981; Sandra Day O'Connor hearings) 

• The Bork Battle: Visions of the Constitution (Oct. 4, 1987; Robert Bork hearings) 

• Hearing Without Strife Brings Joy to Senators (July 21, 1993; RBG hearings, contrasting them with Thomas/ Anita Hill) 
  • The Wayne Morse Center in partnership with the Center for the Study of Women in Society will be hosting Anita Hill May 9, 2024.