July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Supreme Court Debates Legality of Ticketing Homeless Individuals, Hears Grants Pass Case

Landmark Case Raises Questions of Cruel and Unusual Punishment

The Supreme Court engaged in a lengthy debate on Monday, lasting more than two and a half hours, over whether ticketing homeless individuals constitutes “cruel and unusual” punishment, potentially violating the Eighth Amendment, as reported by CNN.

Several justices expressed concerns regarding the criminalization of homelessness while also acknowledging the necessity for cities to address public health and fire hazards in homeless encampments nationwide.

In an exchange, Justice Sotomayor asked, “Where do we put them if every city, every village, every town lacks compassion?”

The attorney representing Grants Pass, Ms. Theane D. Evangelis, started to answer and said, We,” but Justice Sotomayor continued and said, “and passes a law identical to this? Where are they supposed to sleep? Are they supposed to kill themselves, not sleeping?

Justice Elena Kagan highlighted the fundamental need for sleep, comparing it to breathing, and questioned the ethical implications of penalizing individuals for sleeping in public spaces when they have nowhere else to go.

The focus of the argument centered on whether the “anti-camping” ordinances in Grants Pass, Oregon, targeted specific conduct, such as sleeping with bedding in public areas or the state of being homeless. The city contends that the ordinances primarily address conduct, whereas plaintiffs argue that enforcement disproportionately targets unhoused individuals.

Under these ordinances, police regularly issue citations to individuals sleeping in parks and other public spaces. Violations incur a $295 fine, which escalates to over $500 if left unpaid.

This case marks a significant appeal concerning unhoused Americans to reach the Supreme Court in decades, garnering close attention from municipalities and states grappling with rising homelessness rates.

According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, over 650,000 people experience homelessness in the United States on any given night, reflecting a 12% increase from 2022 to 2023.

Chief Justice John Roberts and other conservative justices raised questions about the ordinance’s explicit language, noting its silence on prohibiting homelessness and the challenge of defining someone’s status as “homeless,” which can fluctuate nightly.

The court contemplated the distinction between status and conduct, a pivotal consideration due to a 1962 Supreme Court ruling that found criminalizing drug addiction – a status – amounted to “cruel and unusual” punishment under the Eighth Amendment.

Residents experiencing homelessness in Grants Pass initiated the lawsuit. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in their favor, asserting that the city could not enforce anticamping ordinances against homeless individuals for sleeping outside or in their cars when no alternative shelter was available.

Grants Pass officials argue that the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition on “cruel and unusual” punishment pertains to torture or hard labor sentences, not citations.

A verdict in the City of Grants Pass v. Johnson case is anticipated before the end of June.

in News
<>Related Posts

Proposed Rebuilding Authority for Wildfire Recovery Sparks Local Control Debate

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Plan Aims to Streamline Rebuilding but Raises Questions Over Community Input A proposed “Resilient Rebuilding Authority” to oversee recovery from...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150 National Guard...

(Video) ‘World’s Strongest Man’ Champion Pulls Big Blue Bus for 30 feet

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

World-class strongman Martins Licis pulled a 34,680‑pound, 35-feet long, battery electric bus through the Pier to set off Pier 360...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

More Commercial Uses Could Be Coming to RAND Building

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Amendment Unlocks New Opportunities, Secures $5.5 Million in Community Benefits The Santa Monica Planning Commission unanimously approved an amendment to...

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...