PolitiFact.com
Statements about Supreme Court
John Lewis

John Lewis

Half-True

Depends on the method, complexity

"Opponents of Section 5 (of the Voting Rights Act) complain of state expense, yet their only cost is the paper, postage and manpower required to send copies of legislation to the federal government for review."

Charles Cooper

Charles Cooper

Half-True

No 'fertility cliff,' but science isn't settled

"Very few men outlive their own fertility."

Ted Cruz

Ted Cruz

True

Big Brother in the bathroom

"We have a federal government that thinks they have the authority to regulate our toilet seats."

Ed Fallone

Ed Fallone

False

Numbers steady amid conflicts

Wisconsin's Supreme Court justices are "deciding fewer opinions in civil and criminal cases than they used to."

Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood

Half-True

Presidents and senators can't directly 'overturn' decision

Says Mitt Romney and George Allen "would overturn Roe v. Wade and allow states to end safe, legal abortion even in cases of rape, incest or when a woman's life is at risk."

National Rifle Association

National Rifle Association

Mostly True

Opinion was a dissent

Bill Nelson voted to confirm Sonia Sotomayor, "who signed a Supreme Court opinion saying Americans do not have an individual right to own firearms."

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

Mostly True

Romney said he won't change law

Says Mitt Romney "has refused to say whether he would have vetoed or signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act."

Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent

Half-True

"Fundamental" is right

"We’ve got four Supreme Court justices who … signed their name to a declaration that Americans have no fundamental right to self-defense."  

Clarence Thomas

Clarence Thomas

True

Order on the bench!

The U.S. Supreme Court has not traditionally asked a lot of questions during oral arguments.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

False

Slim majority, not unprecedented

If the Supreme Court throws out the federal health care law, it "would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress."

Chris Smith

Chris Smith

Mostly True

Estimates aren't that far off

Says there have been "well over" 54 million abortions since 1973.

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum

False

That's not what she said

Claims Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said "she prefers the South African Constitution over the United States Constitution."

Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio

False

Distorting for a laugh?

Says a U.S. Supreme Court justice suggested that some U.S. cases will be decided based on South African law.

Einer Elhauge

Einer Elhauge

Mostly True

And our Founding Father Presidents approved

"In 1790, the first Congress, which was packed with framers, required all ship owners to provide medical insurance for seamen; in 1798, Congress also required seamen to buy hospital insurance for themselves. In 1792, Congress enacted a law mandating that all able-bodied citizens obtain a firearm."

Rick Scott

Rick Scott

False

Not unless Supreme Court or Congress says so

The Affordable Care Act is "not the law of the land."

Anthony Weiner

Anthony Weiner

Half-True

Legal experts disagree

"Under the clear letter of the law, (Justice Clarence Thomas) must recuse himself" from the case challenging the constitutionality of the health care law.

Barack Obama

Barack Obama

False

Score two to two on judges' decisions on constitionality

Twelve judges have thrown out legal challenges to the health care law because they rejected "the notion that the health care law was unconstitutional."

Dean Cannon

Dean Cannon

Mostly False

Who says the Supremes need "express authority"?

The Florida Supreme Court has "no express authority in the Florida Constitution" to remove questions from the ballot proposed by the Legislature.  

Todd Staples

Todd Staples

True

It's in the Bill of Rights.

Says the U.S. Constitution provides for just compensation when land is taken under eminent domain.

Kendrick Meek

Kendrick Meek

True

Though Crist can't remember why he opposed her

Kendrick Meek claims he's the only candidate who said Sonia Sotomayor "will make an excellent Supreme Court justice."

Advertisement
How to contact us:

We want to hear your suggestions and comments. For tips or comments on our campaign promise database, please e-mail the Obameter. If you are commenting on a specific promise, please include the promise number. For comments about our Truth-O-Meter or Flip-O-Meter items, please e-mail the Truth-O-Meter. We’re especially interested in seeing any chain e-mails you receive that you would like us to check out. If you send us a comment, we'll assume you don't mind us publishing it unless you tell us otherwise.

Browse the The Truth-O-MeterTM:
Browse The Obameter:
Subscribe:

Keep up to date with Politifact National: