Five Justices Sit Out as Court Affirms Coates Copyright Win (1)

The US Supreme Court summarily affirmed a lower court’s ruling clearing journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates, Oprah Winfrey, and a host of companies of plagiarism, after five justices recused themselves from the decision.

With only four justices available to hear the case, the court lacked a quorum, and because “the qualified Justices are of the opinion that the case cannot be heard” during the high court’s next term, the court is required by statute to affirm the judgment of the lower court “with the same effect as upon affirmance by an equally divided court,” according to the order issued Monday.

Justices Samuel ...