Carissa Hessick

Professor Carissa Byrne Hessick was a guest on The Jordana Green Show on WCCO News Radio on Monday, June 25, to explain the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on S.B. 1070

In a response to Green’s questions, Hessick said the split decision didn’t give police officers additional immigration enforcement powers beyond those they already have, and did not answer all the questions about states’ rights. The opinion held several surprises, she noted.

“One of the most interesting things was that Chief Justice Roberts joined the majority opinion, and I don’t know that many would have predicted that,” Hessick said. “Another really interesting thing is to note that the three justices who dissented, Justice Scalia, Justice Alito and Justice Thomas, couldn’t agree on what it was that the majority got wrong, so it’s not like there’s a clear legal consensus on the other side on why the Arizona law should have been OK.”

To listen to the interview, click here, then skip ahead to 19:30.