WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday commenced a new term that promises to spotlight President Donald Trump’s strong assertions of executive power. This term is set to tackle pivotal cases concerning voting rights and the rights of LGBTQ individuals, making it a significant period for the judiciary.
On Tuesday, the justices will deliberate on arguments regarding bans enacted by nearly half of U.S. states on therapy aimed at altering sexual orientation or gender identity. This case represents a crucial intersection of law and LGBTQ rights, reflecting ongoing debates about personal freedoms and state regulations.
Chief Justice John Roberts officially opened the term on Monday as the court dismissed over 800 pending appeals. Notably, this included a challenge by Ghislaine Maxwell concerning her conviction related to luring teenage girls for sexual exploitation by Jeffrey Epstein.
As the term progresses, a major focus will be on the Supreme Court's assessment of Trump’s expansive claims of presidential power. The court’s conservative majority has been generally favorable, at least in preliminary rulings, to various emergency appeals from Trump’s Republican administration.
However, there may be heightened skepticism when the court conducts more in-depth examinations of some of Trump’s policies, including his imposition of tariffs and his proposed restrictions on birthright citizenship.
The justices are scheduled to hear a critical case regarding Trump’s economic agenda in early November, focusing on the legality of his sweeping tariffs. Two lower courts have determined that the Republican president does not possess the authority to unilaterally impose extensive tariffs under an emergency powers law.
In December, the Supreme Court will address Trump’s authority to dismiss members of independent agencies at will. This case is poised to potentially overturn or significantly limit a 90-year-old precedent which mandates a valid cause, such as neglect of duty, for the president to remove Senate-confirmed officials from their positions. The outcome of this case seems likely to favor the conservatives, given that they have permitted the firings to proceed despite lower-court rulings deeming them illegal. The three liberal justices have consistently dissented in these matters.
Another significant case awaiting consideration relates to Trump’s executive order that seeks to deny birthright citizenship to children born in the United States to parents who are in the country illegally or temporarily. The administration has appealed lower-court decisions that have blocked this order as unconstitutional, challenging a long-standing legal precedent established over 125 years ago and an 1898 Supreme Court ruling. This case is anticipated to be argued in late winter or early spring, further shaping the landscape of immigration law and citizenship rights.
As the Supreme Court navigates these complex issues, the outcomes of these pivotal cases will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the balance of power within the U.S. government and the rights of its citizens.
