. >> next a discussion of the solicitor general, united states supreme court. there is the book cover. professor owens, what is a solicitor general? >> the attorney for the united states. he or she represents the united states interest in the supreme court, occasionally in the federal circuit courts of appeals. it is really the central figure. ♪ -- >> it is more of a trial attorney. >> that is a good question. the office of the solicitor general has three layers to it. at the very top we have the us solicitor general, a position that is nominated by the president, confirmed by the senate, typically people who are very very good in a legal sense and well-connected politically. so below them then you have got for deputy solicitor general, and those are folks who are experts in the issue area. so what is unique is cases with which they are involved start off with staff attorneys is and then they write is a generalist judge. now for jargon. kicked out to the next level gets filtered through generalists the experts in the issue area back up to generalist again. the k

thurgood marshall doesn't make it, i am going to nominate you for the supreme court because i am hell-bent on integrating the united state supreme court appeared when coleman had worked with thurgood marshall in 1954 on marshall's titanic six during the browns segregation case of william coleman didn't want to do it. he didn't want to be second choice. he told president johnson that. he also said i will go around and visit as many of the southern senators in northern senators and western senators as they can, especially the ones on the fence about their good marshall. i will try to persuade them to vote for thurgood marshall. there is no doubt that helped. >> what was the political break down, the partisan breakdown? >> most of the democrats were southern democrats. they were the ones who went against marshall. marshall got a lot of help

.. >> >> "the solicitor general and the united states supreme court" professor bryan and no wins. san neck the solicitor general is the attorney for the united states here she represents united states against the united states supreme korda federal circuit court but is a central figure in to litigate the u.s. position before the supreme court whether or not they are an expert spinning the office of the solicitor general has three layers. at the very top is a position nominated by the president confirmed by the senate so there are very, very good in a legal sense but also well-connected politically. then the role for deputy solicitors general, and they are experts in the issue area involved. so then you have the staff attorneys so what is unique cases start off with the staff attorneys do their research and write as a judge would want to read not full the jargon. they review the case is a major one of these priests in the presentation is filtered through the expert in the issue area so that type of lead which is filtered through so many different channels a review and ask about prev

one would think, here you go, united states supreme court, law of the land, boom done. paul, straighten me out, explain. >> i'm not surprised in some respect because this is such a controversial social issue, has been in the united states. >> of course. >> if you look back to brown versus board of education when we integrated schools in this country there were local judges who tried to obstruct the law of the land. that's what's happening now. roy moore, the chief justice of the alabama supreme court, which is not his first road show fighting the federal government. he was ordered to take down a ten commandments monument from the alabama judicial building by order of a federal judge, and he refused to do so. so he's been violating federal court orders for a long time, and i think what you're going to see here is lawyers are going to go into federal court and they're going to get an order requiring the alabama supreme court to abide by the supreme court decision because that's the law of the land. >> so let's back up a half step. so what's happening here? this is coming f

. >> and now next on booktv a discussion of the solicitor general and the united states supreme court. there's the book cover, co-author is university of wisconsin professor ryan owens. professor owens, what is a solicitor general? >> guest: so the solicitor general is the attorney for the united states. he or she represents the united states' interests in the supreme court, occasionally in the federal circuit courts of appeals, but is really the central figure in terms of litigating the u.s.' position before the supreme court. >> host: whether or not that person is an expert in the topic being discussed or not, it's more of a trial attorney type thing? >> guest: well, that's a good question. the office of the solicitor general sort of has three layers to it. at the very top we've got the u.s. solicitor general, now don verrilli. that's a position that is nominated by the president, confirmed by the senate. so these typically are people who are very, very good in the legal sense but also well connected politically. so below them then you've got four deputy solicitors general, and thos

and the united states supreme court didn't quibble with the data. they didn't say, "we don't believe you." they simply held that the death penalty is constitutional because of two reasons. one, if we deal with racial bias in the administration of the death penalty, it's gonna be just a matter of time before we start having to hear complaints about racial bias in other forms of the criminal justice system. and justice brennan in his dissent ridiculed the court for its quote "fear of too much justice." and he was right. the second thing was the thing that i think ought to haunt us, all of us. as the court said that a certain quantum of bias, a certain amount of discrimination in the administration of the american death penalty, a certain level of racial bias is inevitable. and because it's inevitable, we can't do anything about it. this is the court that has "equal justice under law" engraved on its front. it is the court that produced brown vs. board of education. >> you've argued in front of the supreme court a number of times. to your knowledge, an

[applause] ted: if marriage matters to you, and let me point out, the united states supreme court did invent marriage. marriage preceded the united states supreme court, cyprien it -- preceded the united states. we have seen connected to this battle on marriage, the battle over religious liberties. many folks attended the rally we held several months ago, listening to heroes who stood and stood for their faith and were persecuted by the government. for me, religious liberty has been a lifelong passion. last 20 yearshe fighting for religious liberty, defending and taxes the 10 commandments -- texas the 10 commandments monument and 5-4.ng, [applause] words, oneing the nation under god and the pledge of allegiance, going to the supreme court and winning, unanimously. [applause] ted: and defending over 3 , theon veterans nationwide womento honor the men and who gave their lives in world war i. going to the supreme court and winning, 5-4. [applause] if marriage and religious liberty matter to you, the question you should ask is not words do you say, but have you walked the walk? when have

united states of america. however, that said, the constitution is amended every single year, by just people who wear robes on the united states supreme courtand so often times it is contrary to the people of the united states. even worse, you see the supreme court actually rewrite laws, embarrassingly what chief justice roberts did in the obamacare case where the supreme court played the role of a super legislature. >> but the founders didn't want to just cede everything to the majority. that is not the kind of republic they envisioned. your version, if we had the supreme court, let's say the supreme court decision casey where they looked at planned parenthood and said yeah, we're going uphold roe versus wade but uphold the rights of lawmakers to curtail those rights. they could erode abortion rights on the edges. let's say two-thirds of the states said no, no erosion. then it would just be the will of the majority opposed to the supreme court telling us. >> it was clear from the founders what they imbued in every paragraph of the constitution, they did not want to empower five unelected, unaccountable judges on the united states supreme c

supreme court."reed though, disagrees."and the united states supreme court order is binding. there's no questioning that. you don't have to be a vanderbilt law scholar to understand that. oit's pretty simple. it's pretty clear cut."chief justice moore says the final decision will be up to the alabama supreme court and if they rule against same sex marriage, it would take yet another supreme court ruling to overrule him. but what about the people who could be married yesterday but can't today?"well that's outside my jurisdiction here. i don't you know..."but it does impact impact them yes, but the effect of obergefell on the existing order of the court, i can't say what they would do. i guess the alabama supreme court will take that under consideration.". chief justice roy moore has a history.20 years ago he rose to fame after he put a ten commandments plaque in his courtroom and later built a monument to the commandments in the state judicial building. building.he was removed from office when he refused to take it down. we knew last year's wildfires were bad... now we know ju

[applause] ted: if marriage matters to you, and let me point out, the united states supreme court did invent marriage. marriage preceded the united states supreme court, cyprien it -- preceded the united tates. formy lena, marriage has been ordained by god as the union of one man and one woman. we have seen connected to this battle on marriage, the battle ver religious liberties. many folks attended the rally we held several months ago, listening to heroes who stood and stood for their faith and were persecuted by the government. for me, religious liberty has been a lifelong passion. i have spent the last 20 years ighting for religious liberty, defending and taxes the 10 commandments -- texas the 10 commandments monument and winning, 5-4. [applause] ted: defending the words, one nation under god and the pledge of allegiance, going to the supreme court and winning, unanimously. [applause] ted: and defending over 3 million veterans nationwide, the cross to honor the men and women who gave their lives in world war i. going to the supreme court and winning, 5-4. [applause] ted: if marriag

the event is held annually near the anniversary of the supreme court decision rowe versus wade that made abortion legal. according to the united states supreme court you know this is iss that has brought us among the scheduled speak 76ers carly fiorina. do not be surprised if you hear they are cancel this will event supposed to not be so hot for that area. >> dana: more than 80 million americans could be impacted by that weather system. we are seeing snow in portions of arkansas. these are live pictures out of virginia. you see the snow coming down not really heavy. people are getting by on the roads. we know that the nation's capitol has been all but shut down because of this storm system. we haven't seen the heavy stuff come down yet but it is expected later today and tonight. people getting one last jog in while they can. up to two and a half feet of snow is expected in some areas. the nation's capitol could be hardest hit. >> kim: they did not have a good dry run. the mayor had to apologize for they had a light dusting and pulled everything to a halt. they are going to be ready for this one. they are prepared since a light dustin

ago romney of mine in the united states supreme court will get that decision unless they are crystale of the first orders of business will be to overturn some decisions united -- citizens united. [cheers and applause] ♪ i am very proud to be the only democratic candidate for president who does not have a super pac. [cheers and applause] ♪ i am extraordinarily proud that in the last eight months, my campaign has received 2.5 million individual contributions, more than any campaign in the history of the united states of america. [cheers and applause] ♪ in the average contribution is less than $30. what we are proving in a very significant way, is you can run a national campaign campaign, a can pave that i believe will be a winning campaign without the independent on corporate money or the money of millionaires and billionaires. [cheers and applause] ♪ today we have got to recognize a very unpleasant but true fact i am the only candidate that will tell you this. that no president, not bernie sanders or anybody else can a loan taken of the powers that be in this country per co-president

and not juries decide whether or not criminals are sentenced to death in florida but the united states supreme court ruled the system unconstitutional tuesday. the ruling came down just as lawmakers settled the legislative session. juries don't need to be unanimous in recommending a death penalty to a judge and the judge has the final say. senator altman challenged the nomination to change that before the ruling came down. >> that process is going to remedy better justice. of the past and i think when we change it we'll prevent mistakes of the future. >> reporter: the ruling stems from the case of timothy lee hurst a popeyes employee accused of killing his customer. florida's attorney said that it's still early and that her office is reviewing the ruling. >> do you think this is going to need adjustments? >> perhaps. it's just coming down and we have to look at it to see what's needed for a fix. >> reporter: if the law state wants to keep the death for the a -- nearly 100 prisoners currently sit on death row. >>> a little crime alert for you. tampa police are looking at a series of car break-ins in

supreme court justice. >> we need to recognize something that has received almost no mention that this election which is in all probability the next president of the united states will make between one and three appointments to the united states supreme court. >> former president bill clinton appointed two justices both during his first term. two decades later ruth bader ginsberg has risen to become this court's most powerful liberal voice. she is close 80 and few of her colleagues are crows to that milestone. >> several of the other justices are in their mid to late 60s. >> george washington law school associate dean allen morrison. >> i can't.imagine justice scalia retiring, if justice ginsburg could hand on i think she come because she wouldn't want donald trump or ted cruz to appoint a successor. >> upholding president obama's signature health care law to striking down limits on federal campaign donations. republican presidential candidates are promising to nominate conservative justices, with an eye to gun control and abortion. >>> they're going to want to get rid of citizens united so we don't have all this money coming in. >> ian millheiser says the real

. >> anchor: the united states supreme court has agreed to review executive orders issued by president obama on immigration. so millions f undocumented immigrant pass supreme court is going to rule on this case by late june of this year. >> anchor: and now to vote 2016, republican presidential candidate donald trump is being endorsed by sara palin. she released a statement reported by the new york times writing, i am proud to endorse donald j trump, for president. >> mr. trump, you are right, look back there in the press box. head are spinning. >> boy, this is trump's moist high profile endorsement yet. >> a ahor: a 25-year-old staffer has diedfter a car accident, that led presidential candidate campaign today. a van transported three volunteers hit a patchf ice and flipped on it's side, look what was left, oh, )t was struck by another car, earlier today carson tweeting this saying rest in peace, our thoughts and prayers are withim family. >> he was a cocaine kingpin like no other, now drug lord former miami beach mansion is being demolished and wait until you heard what was found insi

wisconsin missed -- madison speaking with professor ryan owens "the solicitor general and the united states supreme court" the books are for sale at the register. thank-you to the parkinson's institute into michele for hoping to arrange this is the c-span is filming tonight so please raise your hand if have a question i will bring the microphone over. professor emeritus of journalism at the diversity of oregon a peabody award winning journalist and of recipient of the prized excellence in medical science reporting. in addition to producing for the primetime documentary is he is a co-author of the dream machine. scientific traders chief executive officer and founder of the parkinson's institute it is the co-author or author of 368 publications in the field of newark -- serology. -- neurology. please give a warm welcome to the doctors. [applause] >> good evening. >> four years ago i learned i had parkinson's of all the diseases it was ironic because 25 years before since the start of my career i worked with bill langston but at the time is a young neurologist to discover the drug addicts turn in prison cel

mind to the united states supreme court will get that nomination unless he or she is crystal clear that they will vote to overturn citizens united. [applause] everybody in this room knows that we live in a highly competitive global economy. succeed, are going to we need the best educated workforce in the world. there was once a time when we did. that time is not anymore. it seems to me to be totally absurd and beyond comprehension that when we need the intellectual capabilities of all of our people, we have hundreds of thousands of young americans who are able and qualified who cannot get to college for one reason and one reason at all. and that is their families lack the money. that is why i believe that in makeear 2016, we must public colleges tuition free. and i say that not just for the obvious reasons. that it means that bright young people will be able to go to college. that there is a more profound reason. in a family that never had a lot of money. but like every new you, the , youe you associate with associate people with similar economic backgrounds. people we associated with j

>> florida's attorney general released this statement today, quote, in light of today's united states supreme court decision holding florida's capital sentencing procedure unconstitutional, the state will need to make changes to inis that your the changes supply and the impact of the court's ruling on existing death sentences will need to be evaluated on a case by case basis. >> the supreme court ruling is hitting one family especially hard. and was sentenced to die and now that could be changing. tiffany teaseley is live with that story. >> that death penalty sentencing gave cloe shush and this is essentially deserving everything that they have worked for for nearly three years. >> and disaster and i thought this matter was close. here we go again. >> and still has the newspaper from the day his son's killer was sentenced to death. testify in a different case when okafour killed him. now they say that ruling and after what he did and what he tried to do to help the citizens and declared unconstitutional with the sixth amendment to impose the death penalty, not a judge. >> don't change the rules of

supreme court. >> man: you will have a case heard in the united states supreme court, and we hope they will take that case to do a decision sometime this summer. >> on another subject, reads has more facilities have been built to house children who immigrated here from central america to escape violence. >> now to the largest jackpot in any lottery game in u.s. history. since there is no weather unless a string, the jackpot is up to more than $700 million. by the time the stores open this morning, the lines were once again wrapped all the way around the building imprint, just over the california state law and. the previous record with 656 million. >> so yesterday we asked the facebook and twitter fans what they would do if they became the winner of the enormous. on facebook, almost half, 43 percent, so they pay off that. >> 10 percent said they would save all their winnings. more than one third said they would help out family and friends, and almost one out of five people said if they won, they would quit their jobs and take a vacation. >> the weather lately may have had something to do with the last

"c2 senator tommy norment/3rd distric 2:59 and i am prayerful that the united states supreme court is going to take the case if for no other reason just to review that law in itself 3:08 " the justices are not expected to make an announcement until monday. a federal jury found mcdonnell and his wife maureen, guilty of trading political favors for gifts and businessman-- for special september of 20-14. new information just into the newsroom about a fire at a virginia beach goodwill store - back in novemeber. fire crews sent us this surveillance video of the two suspects setting fire to stuff left outside the store on lynnhaven road. you can see two people walking across the back of the goodwill store parking lot. you can see the one male walk up to a pile of donated goods left unattended at the back of building. around one-thirty the morning of novemeber 29th. the fire damaged the rear of the building, the back door, an awning and the donated items. if you know anything about the two people in the video or this fire - call the virginia beach fire prevention bureau at 3-8-5-4-2-4-8. we'

will even without united states supreme court they look to each other.t there are many ways in part that requires looking to each other. , would say it is unfortunate development but in many ways so what i want to show and i stop there is engaging in activity to undermine basic american values and most of all it is the one practical way that the great problems are improved the fifth amendment the 14th amendment that is a more basic part of america and lot. >> given a statutory regime there is something desirable about that interpretation to make it work better that tends to harmonize american law with other countries over matters in that all sounds correct. and i can imagine the argument when did it become a cannon to make other countries' laws work better? and how you respond to the dia to improve the global functioning. >> this startling examples to prove to the contrary have given one that does but but the into trustor the securities and when did it happen? with those antitrust lawyers it is a small group i used to belong to that group but the fact is

.- >> anchor: the united states supreme court has agreed to review executive orders issued by president obama on so millions f undocumented immigrant pass supreme court i going to rule on this case by late june of this year. >> anchor: and now to vote 2016, republican presidential candidate donald trump is being endorsed by sara palin. she released a statement reported by the new york times writing, i am proud to endorse donald j trump, for president. >> mr. trump, you are right, look back there in the press box. head are spinning. >> boy, this is trump's moist high profile endorsement yet. >> anchor: a 25-year-old staffer has died after a car accident, that led presidential candidate to temporarily suspend his campaign today. a van transported three volunteers hit a patch of ice and flipped on it's side, look what was left, oh, it was struck by anotherer car, earlier today in peace, our thoughts and prayers are with him family. >> he was a cocaine kinipin like no other, now drug lord former miam beach mansion is being demolished and wait until you heard what was found inside. >> politi

today, the united states supreme court said it will rule on a showdown between president obama and congress. in 2014, mr. obama bypassed congress and issued executive actions that would shield millions of illegal immigrants from deportation, such as the parents of children born in the united states. the court will decide by summer whether the president overstepped his power. the americans freed in a prisoner swap with iran have not stopped smiling. today, the "washington post" rezaian sharing laughs over an internet video. and former u.s. marine sara mae amir hekmati shared his thoughts on being freed. he had been arrested on espionage charges while visit higz family in iran. liz palmer is at the u.s. military hospital in landstuhl, germany, where the former prisoners are being treated. >> reporter: meeting reporters, amir hekmati looked relaxed and healthy. >> i thoap get home soon. i really want to see my family and be back on the land of the free. >> reporter: how are you feeling yourself fill fizically now? >> right now, i feel great. i have so much energy. like i said, i feel alive for

. >> and united states supreme court justice returned to his home of hamilton new jersey all to swear in mayor. >> i kelly. >> do solemnly swear. >> that i will support the constitution of the united states. >> and constitution -- >> judge asilio offered the administration to an audience of 100. she was elected for a four year term and led mercer county i township till 2012 after being corrupted of -- convicted of corruption. >> finding meaning notice eagles last game against the giants and shoot ago tack in israel captured in surveillanc surveillance. motives are still something of a mystery tonight. and president explains reaso reasoning to take an executive action on gun control this yea year. >> winter weather teens and 20s to the north near the hudson bay and this is aiming straigh straight. we'll talk about that plunge in accuweather. >> we'll show you "action news" accuweather. >> we'll show you "action news" will be right back. ♪ (vo) some call it giving back. we call it share the love. during our share the love event, get a new subaru, and we'll donate $250 to those in need.

the bill that is presently filed that i have read goes miles and miles beyond what the united states supreme court has said is required. >> now, okafor's attorney tells me it's going to be a while before he even argues this case in court. in the meantime, we're working right now to find out if the u.s. supreme court's ruling is retroactive, if it applies to only the cases that have already been ruled or if it's for all the future cases. stand by as we find out more. we're live at the orange county courthouse tonight, eric sandoval, news 6. >> thank you. >> now to a dramatic rescue of a driver in orange county. slammed into a house. the damage is pretty nasty from this crash here. sky 6 was first to fly over the scene along lightning trail in maitland around 1:30 this afternoon. fire/rescue tells us the driver was trapped inside the van for a while. crews worked to get him out. we're told he was not seriously hurt. right now, no word on what caused the crash. >> an update now on the body found near an orlando nightclub yesterday. police are now calling his death a homicide. investigators say essex

according to new report 10% of college graduates think judge judy served on the united states supreme court and another 5.5% of college grads identify secretary of state john kerry as supreme court justice. >> and those people graduate with diplomas. >> that's real basic stuff there. >> judge judy is on tv. how do you not know that. >> what all supreme court justices represent on tv? >> and have they heard of google? i'm just saying. >> yeah. that was to me, one of the most depressing stories of the day. that say comment. >> on fox news channel we had on good day he goes out and interviews young people and asks them questions and invariousably they answer like that non senseicily like that. hopefully this makes sense, gary mcgrady talking about weather. and what exactly we can expect. all this stuff coming. >> we're beginning to see our late-week storm system already on satellite and radar. we'll show you in a second. temperatures i want to show you it's not quite as cold this morning as it has been. still cool. out in suburbs we're in the teens and there's a wind blowing. we have still a w

, "at this time we're carefully reviewing and analyzing the decision handed down by the united states supreme court." >> so when will lawmakers decide if the executions are going to be halted or not? we're expecting to hear something by the end of the day today, but it will take some time for lawmakers to figure out exactly what's going to happen if they're going to change the law to adhere to what the u.s. supreme court ruled today or if they're going to do away with executions altogether. stay tuned. we're live at the orange county courthouse tonight, eric sandoval, news 6. >> a lot of questions still out there tonight. we've posted more on the supreme court's decision, including the complete ruling on our website. just head to clickorlando.com, powered by news 6. >> an update now on the search for a driver. police say he hit a 3-year-old boy and took off. we're told a suspect has been arrested in that case. was driving a chrysler along east cypress street in winter garden when he hit a boy. family members say the boy was driving ice cream with his brother at the time. the boy was rushed to the h

awake to be just days away from finding out if bob mcdonnell will have to go to prison the united states supreme court is considering an appeal for more from the former virginia governor a jury convicted mcdonnell and his wife marie on public corruption charges. he has remained free while he appeals the case but if the justices decide they won't hear it you'll have to report directly to prison for his two year sentence right now is most likely the supreme court will issue a decision on monday a traffic alert and often part of tidewater drive near i sixty four is closed because of a bad accident is a live look at that scene please say a tractor trailer crossed the median into oncoming traffic that driver is dead several others are hurt the road is closed in both directions right now as police investigate the five car wreck close traffic in both directions. ashley smith that traffic incident yet david i went ahead to where the accident is here on the traffic network maps you can see a couple of warning symbols there indicating exactly what's going on and in terms of the closure so again the city five hu

the united states supreme court is clear on the subject. it was unconstitutional today. it was unconstitutional 25 years ago. >> sheaffer also told us some legal scholars believe the willing will only affect the cases. other experts in florida say they will work with the attorney general's office to get codification on the ruling. >>> this major ruling may already been -- impact-profile murder case in volusia county to a hearing has been scheduled for tomorrow in the trial of toledo as a result of yesterday's ruling. legal in a say the death penalty would be off the table for him if he is convicted of killing his wife suarez and hurt 2 children. >>> orlando police need your help to find a vehicle they believe belongs to a suspect in found shot dead in the parking lot village park apartments in rosemont. the silver suv was seen leaving after which. it has dark tinted windows and a dent in the driver store. >>> number 2 orange county teachers have been disciplined by the state for the alleged mistreatment of autistic students. regional -- we do walters and another received

supreme court didn't invent marriage. marriage preceded the u.s. supreme court, preceded the united states of america for millennia, marriage has been ordained by god, as the union of one man and one woman. [applause] and we have seen connected to this battle on marriage the battle over religious liberty. many folks here attended the rally we hope for religious liberty several months ago listening to heroes who stood calm and stood for the faith and were persecuted by government. for me, religious liberty has been a lifelong passion. i've spent the last two decades fighting for religious liberty, defended in texas the 10 commandments monument on the state capitol grounds going into the u.s. supreme court and winning 5-4. [applause] defending the words, one nation under god, and the pledge of allegiance, go into the supreme court and women unanimously. [applause] -- whinny unanimously. and defending over 3 million veterans nationwide, defending the mojave desert cross. going to the u.s. supreme court and winning 5-4. [applause] now, if marriage and religious liberty matter to you, what woul

today marks the 43rd anniversary of the supreme court decision in roe v wade legalizing abortion in the united statesp, in 45 minutes on washington journal, donna crane of pro-choice america talks about the supreme court's decision to hear two cases related to women's productive rights. 30, david of the center for medical progress will discuss his organization's primary role in a secretly recorded videotape of planned parenthood staff. >> today, we live in a time of threats like few others in recent memory. it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. we must resist that temptation. host: several new pulls out showing that the majority of the american electorate is angry, angry at the direction of the country, of the president, of congress, at the economy, angry about some of the issues we face today in the u.s.. are you an angry voter? we want to hear from you on the washington journal.

. >> leading 31 states, defending the second amendment right to keep and bear arms. we went to the supreme court, we won, 5-4. >> in front of the unitedreme court, we defended the ten commandments on the state capital grounds. when an atheist filed a lawsuit seeking to strike down the pledge, we went to the u.s. supreme court and we won anonymono unanimously. >> from 2003 to 2008, cruz argued eight cases before the supreme court and submitted friend of the court briefs in over 70 more cases. he turned what could have been a relatively low profile job into a platform to push conservative causes from gun rights to texas redistricting to the death penalty. cruz highlighted one of those in his first tv ad in his 2012 senate bid. >> when the u.n. and world court overruled a texas jury's verdict to execute an illegal alien for raping and murdering two teenage girls, ted cruz fought all the way to the supreme court and he delivered. >> boy, it conflates a lot of things, doesn't it? in that one ad, and in that one case. just last week on the trail, cruz made it clear he had no problem opposing a republican president on that case, even one he