Perhaps it is only semantics, but "adheres" feels like it puts the cart before the horse, while "affirms" maintains the inferior courts status AS inferior to the SCOTUS. Technically none of the terms should apply unless the SCOTUS 1) decides to hear an appeal and 2) affirms the lower courts ruling. It could, of course, rule for the plaintiff on a completely different basis than the lower court(s) did. It seems the latest ruling did just that; a lower court had already ruled for the plaintiff, but Congress wanted to weigh in with an amicus curiae and could not without an appeal, so the DoJ filed one even though it agreed with the previous ruling. The SCOTUS could just as easily refuse to hear an appeal; either way this ruling would stand WITHOUT affirmation as a SCOTUS precedent.