The US Supreme Court today heard arguments in the most significant case on homelessness and decades.

The case looks at challenges to laws in a small Oregon town

for finding homeless people up to $300 for setting up camps in public parks.

The heart of the question is whether these laws classify as cruel and unusual punishment.

Our Supreme Court analyst, Marshall Coyle,

has been following it all and joins us now.

So, Marsha, the justices expressed some concern

that these laws punish homeless people

who have no other choice really but to sleep outside.

What was the basis of this case?

Well, Jeff, as you mentioned earlier, the lawsuit that was filed by the group of homeless citizens of grants pass claimed

that the city's ordinances prohibiting camping in public spaces really

punished them and violated the Eighth Amendment's cruel and unusual punishment clause.

They said they were being punished because of their status as homeless.

And the Supreme Court has said in earlier opinions that you cannot punish

someone on the basis of their status. You can punish conduct but not status.

Our team spoke with Ed John. punish conduct, but not status.

Our team spoke with Ed Johnson.

He's an attorney who first brought the suit against this city,

grants pass Oregon, as well as Thiney Evangelist.

She's an attorney representing the city who argued before the court today.

These were people who had lived in grants past sometimes for generations.

...