SCOTUStoday for Thursday, February 19

SCOTUSblog

by Kelsey Dallas

February 19, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, authorizing the relocation of Japanese Americans to internment camps during World War II. The Supreme Court later upheld this decision in 1944, ruling that the government’s actions did not exceed wartime powers. However, in 2018, Chief Justice John Roberts condemned this ruling as “gravely wrong,” emphasizing its lack of constitutional justification and highlighting the court’s evolution on issues of racial justice. The Supreme Court has introduced a new process to identify potential conflicts of interest among its justices, aiming to enhance transparency and public trust. This comes amid ongoing discussions about ethical standards in the judiciary. The court is also set to announce opinions on February 20 at 10 a.m. EST, with live coverage provided by SCOTUSblog. Additionally, the justices will meet in private conference on Friday to vote on pending petitions for review, with orders expected on Monday. A legal challenge over New York’s congressional map has reached the

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Originally published on SCOTUSblog on 2/19/2026