Supreme Court Term to Tackle Major Cases on Climate Law, Gun Rights, and Election Integrity

The Supreme Court has begun its new term, with several cases poised to address contentious issues including climate change lawsuits, Second Amendment rights, religious liberty, and election integrity. The court's originalist majority is expected to shape the direction of American law in these key areas.

Climate Lawsuits

One of the term's prominent cases, Suncor Energy v. Commissioners of Boulder County, directly addresses the legal strategy of using state tort law to hold energy companies accountable for the effects of global climate change. Boulder, Colorado, is suing Suncor and ExxonMobil for damages related to emissions, a legal approach mirrored in lawsuits filed by numerous other states and cities. Critics argue this litigation effectively imposes a "carbon tax" and could lead to higher energy prices or corporate bankruptcies. The Supreme Court will consider whether federal law preempts these state-level claims and if it has jurisdiction to hear the case. The issue touches upon the long-standing principle that emissions crossing state lines are primarily a federal concern.

Religious Liberty and Discrimination

A case originating from Colorado, St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, challenges the state's universal preschool program. Catholic preschools claim they were excluded from the program due to their religious teachings on sex and gender, despite the program's nondiscrimination requirements. This case is seen as a test of whether the government can exclude religious institutions from public benefits. The Supreme Court has previously ruled in favor of religious entities in similar cases, including those involving a baker, a web designer, and a counselor in Colorado, suggesting a potential loss for the state.

Second Amendment Rights

The Court will hear consolidated cases, Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, which question whether the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect the right to own popular semi-automatic rifles like the AR-15. These cases challenge bans on "assault weapons" in Cook County, Illinois, and Connecticut. The justices are expected to apply originalist interpretations, examining whether such bans align with historical traditions of firearm regulation, as established in previous rulings like District of Columbia v. Heller and New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. This term offers an opportunity to clarify which firearms are protected under the Second Amendment and the standard for defining "arms in common use."

Election Integrity

In Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, the Supreme Court will review Arizona's laws requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and allowing officials to remove noncitizens from voter rolls. The Ninth Circuit had previously blocked these provisions, ruling they were preempted by the National Voter Registration Act and a consent decree that allowed "federal-only" registrations without proof of citizenship. The case raises questions about the balance between federal election law and a state's ability to ensure the citizenship of its voters.

Parental Rights

The case International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson focuses on parental rights, specifically concerning a Washington state law that alters notification requirements for runaway youth seeking gender-affirming services. Under the amended law, shelters are no longer required to notify parents when a minor seeks such services; instead, they notify the state. The immediate legal question is whether the parents have standing to sue, as their children have not yet run away or undergone irreversible procedures. The case highlights concerns that such laws could undermine parental authority and notification, even in non-emergency situations.

The Supreme Court's docket for this term includes a range of significant cases that could redefine constitutional interpretations and affect daily life across the country.