As the summer session of the Supreme Court draws to a close, the anticipation grows for several key decisions that will shape various aspects of law and policy.
With 10 cases still pending, the Court remains on track to adhere to its tradition of delivering decisions by the end of June.
Supreme Court Summer Session Nears Conclusion
This week, the justices are expected to hand down rulings on significant matters, including student debt relief, affirmative action, and federal election laws.
Simultaneously, the Court is busy assembling its docket for the upcoming term, with potential landmark cases on guns, racial discrimination, and qualified immunity under consideration.
One of the most eagerly awaited decisions involves President Biden’s proposal to forgive student debt for millions of borrowers.
The Court’s ruling will determine whether Biden’s plan, which aims to provide relief of up to $10,000 for eligible borrowers and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, will proceed or be halted.
Currently, the debt relief remains on hold as two lawsuits challenging the plan await resolution.
The conservative majority questioned the administration’s legitimacy to cancel the debts, which might be worth hundreds of billions of dollars, during oral arguments.
However, before ruling on the plan’s legality, the Court must first establish the legal standing of the challengers.
Notably, Missouri’s argument garnered significant attention, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a conservative appointee, joined the court’s liberal justices in questioning the state’s theory.
The cases in question are Biden v. Nebraska and Department of Education v. Brown.
In a potential turning point for affirmative action in higher education, the Court is considering whether to overturn its 2003 decision that upheld the practice.
Challenges to admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have brought this issue to the forefront.
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Same-Sex Wedding Websites
The Court is set to decide on the case of Lorie Smith, a web designer challenging Colorado’s public accommodation law on free speech grounds. Smith, an evangelical Christian, objects to creating same-sex wedding websites due to her opposition to gay marriage.
The justices will determine whether public accommodation laws, as applied to artists like Smith, violate the First Amendment by compelling their speech.
The conservative majority expressed support for Smith’s stance during oral arguments.
Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Gorsuch are the likely contenders to write the majority opinion.
‘Independent State Legislature’ Theory: A significant election-related dispute has reached the Court, involving North Carolina Republican lawmakers who appealed a state court ruling striking down their congressional map.
The lawmakers argue for the “independent state legislature” theory, contending that state legislatures possess the exclusive authority to set federal election rules under the Constitution.
The Court’s decision could impact the ability of state courts and constitutions to interfere with legislatures’ control over federal election regulations.
However, recent developments, including Republicans regaining control of North Carolina’s top court and overturning the underlying decision, may impact the Court’s jurisdiction in this case.
Chief Justice Roberts or Justice Gorsuch is likely to author the majority opinion. The case is Moore v. Harper.
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