SCOTUS for Students: The Supreme Court’s Contraceptive-Mandate Cases — If you have followed developments in the Supreme Court’s contraceptive-mandate cases, you may be scratching your head, wondering what’s going on. You are not alone. Even seasoned Court watchers are somewhat surprised and mystified by the challenge the Justices now face to sort out a complex morass that more closely resembles a settlement conference or legislative drafting session than an appellate case.