The Supreme Court Footnote

Finalist, 2025 PROSE Awards: Legal Studies and Criminology A history of the humble footnote and its impact on the highest court in the land In May 2022, a seismic legal event occurred as the draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was leaked. The majority aimed to eliminate constitutional protection for abortion. Amidst the fervor, an unnoticed detail emerged: over 140 footnotes accompanied the majority opinion and dissent. These unassuming annotations held immense significance