6-3 Supreme Court Decides Criminalizing Homeless Residents for Sleeping Outside Isn't Cruel and Unusual

To get a physical copy of the issue released each Wednesday, locate your nearest vendor here or read more online at streetroots.org. 

Further Information

• Full Supreme Court Opinion in Grants Pass v. Johnson 

• Transcript + Audio of Supreme Court Oral Arguments in Grants Pass v. Johnson

• ORS 195.530  (2021 statewide legislation that cancels out SCOTUS ruling in Oregon)

• Key Precedent: 9th Circuit Federal Court Ruling in Martin v. Boise (2018) [SCOTUS declined case, therefore upholding the lower court ruling. Case establishes that sleeping outside cannot be punished if there is not otherwise sufficient shelter space]

• Key Precedent: Supreme Court Ruling in Robinson v. California (1962)

Related Episodes: 

• 5/8/24: U.S. Supreme Court Hears Grants Pass v. Johnson (recapping oral arguments in the case before the Supreme Court from Jeremiah's trip to DC for the occasion). 

• 4/3/2024: Uncomfortable Enough? Grants Pass v. Johnson (Jeremiah's in-depth reporting speaking to stakeholders in Grants Pass pre-Supreme Court oral arguments, including service providers, home builders, homeless residents, those involved in the SCOTUS case, etc.)

• 1/17/2024: U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Homelessness Case (Jeremiah's initial reporting on the background of the Grants Pass case)

Episode Credits: