Supreme Court to Address Climate Change, Immigration, and Gun Rights in Upcoming Term

The U.S. Supreme Court is set to begin a new term on Monday, featuring cases related to climate change, gun rights, immigration, and religious liberty. The court has agreed to hear 30 cases so far, following a summer described by PBS News Supreme Court analyst Amy Howe as not much of a 'recess.' Historically, the Supreme Court has a quiet summer after publishing the previous term's decisions in June, during which they decide which cases to hear in the new term. However, an increase in petitions to the emergency docket, known as the 'shadow docket,' has led justices to issue temporary decisions while cases progress through lower courts. These decisions are typically unsigned and lack extensive explanations. Howe noted that the court hears relatively few cases on the 'merits' compared to past years, with much of their work occurring on the emergency docket, which can have long-term implications for the litigants involved. For instance, in September, the court temporarily blocked former President Trump's attempt to restrict mail-in voting. The Supreme Court is expected to add more cases for arguments in the coming months, as it has done in the past. This term, potential cases could include issues related to the military's ban on transgender members and Trump's appeal regarding a defamation case brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. One significant case involves whether state and local governments can sue energy companies for their contributions to climate change. Boulder, Colorado, has sued Suncor and Exxon Mobil, claiming the companies were aware of their impact on climate change and seeking monetary compensation. The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on this case on October 5. There are numerous similar cases across the country where municipalities are seeking damages from energy companies. The court will also hear a case in December regarding the legality of a local Illinois law that bans the possession, sale, and transfer of assault weapons, including AR-15s. Gun rights organizations have challenged this law, arguing it infringes on constitutional rights. Additionally, the court will review the legality of the Trump administration's policy to deport immigrants to countries other than their own, as well as a new case regarding mandatory immigration detention policies. Lastly, a Catholic preschool in Colorado is challenging the state's nondiscrimination agreement for public funding, claiming it violates its First Amendment rights. This case is part of a broader trend involving public funds for religious institutions.