Final answer:
The excerpts provided do not accurately pertain to the Jones v. Mayer decision; rather, they suggest a conflation with another case involving political partisanship and criticisms of a court ruling. Correct information about the Jones v. Mayer case is required to provide a valid answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Jones v. Mayer decision is not the subject of the provided excerpts. It appears there has been a conflation with another case. The excerpts refer to criticisms and comments surrounding a disputed ruling, involving political partisanship and obiter dictum, which are not elements of the Jones v. Mayer case. Instead, the given comments mention Justice Stevens and criticisms in Republican papers, suggesting the discussion pertains to a different case. Without specific details about the Jones v. Mayer decision, this answer cannot proceed accurately. It is essential to cross-reference and ensure the correctness of the case or ruling in question before delivering a precise answer.