After Justice Scalia died, the justices held private negotiations about locking away their papers. We may not see the ultimate record of the Roberts court for decades.
Lower-court rulings would have blocked construction of the 90,000-square-foot ballroom after finding that the Trump administration should have first sought approval from Congress.
The justices are still struggling with whether and when to explain themselves to the public when the court issues temporary, but consequential, orders.
In 19 months, the president has already asked the justices to intervene far more times than George W. Bush and Barack Obama did during their 16 years in office combined.
The 90,000-square-foot ballroom project has grown in size and scope, with the president’s lawyers saying it is intertwined with the renovation of an underground military bunker.
Connexion
