T HE SUPREME COURT decided just 55 fully argued or “merits” cases in the term that ended on June 27th—the lowest total since the civil war, except for the covid-curtailed term of 2020. Yet the justices have been busier than ever.

The Supreme Court’s conservative majority continued to march American law toward the right during its term that ended last week, in a steady stream of 6-3 decisions in major cases along with a flood of emergency appeals sparked by the Trump administration.