Tag Archives: supreme court

Overturning Roe v. Wade will disproportionately affect people of color; Here is what social workers should know

By Mel Wilson, LCSW, MBA The leaked report of a draft Supreme Court ruling to completely overturn the seminal abortion rights opinion Roe v. Wade sent shockwaves throughout the country. While most reproductive health and other social justice advocates expected the conservative-leaning court would “gut” Roe v. Wade, they did not anticipate the absolute evisceration of the law. In that Roe ... Read More »

NASW in Supreme Court brief supports student suspended for social media comments made off-campus

By Elizabeth M. Felton, Esq., LICSW NASW Associate Council Mahanoy Area School District v. B. L., involves the scope of a public-school student’s First Amendment right to free speech that occurs on social media or off campus and the school’s ability to address off-campus speech. The issue of whether public schools can discipline students over something they say off campus ... Read More »

U.S. Supreme Court takes up case concerning rights of gays, lesbians to foster children

The U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 4 will begin hearing arguments in Fulton v. City of Philadelphia concerning the rights of gays and lesbians to foster children. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), and several other child welfare/adoption organizations, participated in the Fulton v. City of Philadelphia amicus brief that was filed in the U.S. Supreme Court in August ... Read More »

NASW distressed Supreme Court pick could have devastating impact on Affordable Care Act

By Mel Wilson, LCSW, MBA National Association of Social Workers Human Rights and Social Justice Consultant Nominating a candidate for a lifetime appointment to this nation’s highest court during this electoral period undermines the democratic process. With polls showing clear opposition to fast-tracking Trump’s nominee prior to the election, we see this process as being a disservice to the American ... Read More »

NASW Commends Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) applauds the U.S. Supreme Court for a ruling today that clears the way for same-sex couples to marry in all 50 states. In a 5-4 majority opinion written by Justice Kennedy in Obergerfell v. Hodges, the court held that the Fourteenth Amendment requires the states to license a marriage between two people of ... Read More »

NASW members joining Voting Rights rally in Roanoke, Va. on June 25

National Association of Social Workers (NASW) members on Thursday June 25 will travel to Roanoke, Virginia’s Elmwood Park to join civil rights groups and voting rights advocates in a rally to restore the Voting Rights Act (VRA). June 25 markets the second anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Shelby County v. Holder decision that gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The ... Read More »

Affordable Care Act Threatened: Here’s How You Can Help Save It

Many social workers may be unaware that on November 14 the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would take up the case King v. Burwell, which challenges the legitimacy of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In previous challenges to ACA, the opposition questioned the constitutionality of the individual mandate required in the law. However, this more recent case does not ... Read More »

NASW Calls on Senate to Confirm Debo Adegbile as Assistant Attorney General

The U.S. Senate will soon decide whether to confirm Debo Adegbile to serve as assistant attoney general in charge of the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is one 75 organizations that signed a letter to Senate leadership urging confirmation of Adegbile. NASW is  also active in the Debo Nomination Coalition. There are several important ... Read More »

Voting Rights Bill Update

On January 16, 2014, the House of Representatives introduced the Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 (H.R. 3899). This is a bipartisan bill that was co-sponsored in the House by Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI) and John Conyers (D-MI). The Senate version of the bill, S. 1945, was also introduced on January 16, 2014 by Patrick Leahy (D-VT). The introduction of the ... Read More »

NASW hopes U.S. Supreme Court will uphold safety zones around reproductive health facilities

The National Association of Social Workers and its Massachusetts Chapter are closely watching the U.S. Supreme Court case McCullen v. Coakley and hope the court will rule in favor of keeping safety buffer zones around reproductive health care facilities in Massachusetts. The court on Jan. 15 will hear oral arguments on whether the law is constitutional. A ruling is expected ... Read More »