John Roberts Bolsters Swing-Vote Status With Immigration Rulings

Chief Justice John Roberts has strengthened his claim to the title of swing vote on the U.S. Supreme Court, siding with the majority in all eight of its immigration cases this term and casting the deciding vote in half of them.

The court heard an unusually high number of immigration disputes. The cases made up nearly 15% of all expected opinions, including yesterday’s 7-2 decision bolstering the government’s ability to quickly deport people who enter the country illegally.

Roberts has emerged as the median justice in recent terms on the majority conservative court. He’s sided with liberals to uphold the ...