History of SCOTUSblog in Timeline

SCOTUSblog is a blog focused on the Supreme Court of the United States. It provides comprehensive coverage of cases, from the initial certiorari stage to the final merits stage. The blog is authored by legal professionals, including lawyers, legal scholars, and law students. Originally sponsored by Bloomberg Law, it is now owned by The Dispatch.

October 1, 2002: SCOTUSblog's First Post

On October 1, 2002, the first post was published on SCOTUSblog. Tom Goldstein and Amy Howe founded it as a means to promote their law firm, Goldstein & Howe, P.C.

February 7, 2005: Blog Address Change

On February 7, 2005, SCOTUSblog moved to its current web address.

2006: Military Commissions Act

In June 29, 2007, the Supreme Court unexpectedly announced it would hear the Guantanamo Bay detainees' challenges to the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

June 2007: Largest Daily Readership

In June 2007, SCOTUSblog announced it was about to experience its single largest daily readership at 100,000 page views per day.

June 29, 2007: Supreme Court to Hear Guantanamo Bay Detainee Challenges

On June 29, 2007, the Supreme Court unexpectedly announced it would hear the Guantanamo Bay detainees' challenges to the Military Commissions Act of 2006.

2007: Companion Wiki Added

In 2007, SCOTUSblog added a companion wiki, though its features were later integrated directly into the blog.

2008: Analysis of SCOTUSblog's Impact

A 2008 article in the New York Law School Law Review estimated that SCOTUSblog alone had posted more information about a case than most newspapers provided even the next day.

2008: SCOTUSblog Recognized as Successful Law Blog

In 2008, an article in the New York Law School Law Review cited SCOTUSblog as an example of a successful law blog, noting its sophisticated analysis of legal issues.

2009: Coverage of Sonia Sotomayor Nomination

In 2009, Paul Krugman of The New York Times highlighted SCOTUSblog's coverage of the Sonia Sotomayor nomination, noting its importance in providing real information to the debate.

2010: ABA Silver Gavel Award

In 2010, SCOTUSblog received the American Bar Association's Silver Gavel Award, the only blog to receive this award.

2010: Criticism for Potential Conflicts of Interest

In 2010, journalist Glenn Greenwald in Salon criticized SCOTUSblog for potential conflicts of interest, regarding Goldstein's litigation practice and the blog's coverage of court matters.

2011: Bloomberg Law Sponsorship

In 2011, Bloomberg Law began sponsoring SCOTUSblog, allowing it to fully separate from Goldstein & Howe, P.C.

March 2012: High Traffic During Affordable Care Act Hearings

During the week of the Affordable Care Act hearings at the Supreme Court in March 2012, SCOTUSblog had one million hits due to its extensive coverage.

2012: Society of Professional Journalists Prize

In 2012, SCOTUSblog won the Society of Professional Journalists (Sigma Delta Chi) prize for deadline reporting for its coverage of the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act decision.