Landmark Rulings Ahead: Supreme Court's Remaining Cases Could Reshape Presidential Authority for Decades
The Mullin v. Doe case, in particular, has garnered significant attention, as it challenges the Trump administration's decision to end TPS protections for Haitian migrants, citing improved conditions in the country. However, advocates argue that the situation in Haiti remains dire, and terminating TPS would put thousands of lives at risk. The Supreme Court's decision in this case could have far-reaching implications for the lives of hundreds of thousands of migrants living in the United States under TPS.
Another closely watched case is Trump v. Sierra Club, which revolves around the president's emergency declaration to divert funds for the construction of a border wall. The case raises questions about the limits of executive power, particularly in regards to the appropriation of funds without congressional approval. The Supreme Court's ruling could either reaffirm or restrict the president's ability to unilaterally declare national emergencies and allocate funds without legislative oversight.
The court is also set to rule on a case involving the Trump administration's efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, a move that was blocked by lower courts. The case, Department of Commerce v. New York, has significant implications for the distribution of federal funds and congressional representation. A ruling in favor of the administration could lead to a significant undercount of immigrant communities, potentially altering the electoral landscape.
Additionally, the Supreme Court will decide on the constitutionality of a Louisiana abortion law, June Medical Services v. Russo, which could have significant implications for reproductive rights in the United States. The case centers on a law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, a requirement that critics argue is unnecessary and would effectively shut down abortion clinics in the state. The court's decision could either uphold or strike down the law, potentially setting a precedent for similar laws in other states.
The administration's argument that the Department of Homeland Security has broad discretion to end Temporary Protected Status protections for migrants from certain countries has been countered by migrant advocates, who argue that federal law requires specific procedures and allows courts to review those decisions. The conservative court majority's support for the Homeland Security secretary's discretionary power to revoke deportation protections for 13 countries on the TPS list has significant implications for the lives of hundreds of thousands of migrants.
In a separate case, Trump v. Cook, the justices are weighing whether President Trump can dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, with the court appearing ready to give the president a major legal setback. The questions of presidential power in this case deal with whether Trump has broad unilateral executive authority to fire someone from the central bank, despite its special status as a stand-alone federal agency. During oral arguments, most justices seemed skeptical of Trump's actions, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressing concerns about the potential erosion of the Federal Reserve's independence.
A related case, Trump v. Slaughter, could have even broader implications, as former Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter challenges her removal from the agency. This case sets up a direct test of a 1935 Supreme Court precedent that limits a president's ability to fire members of independent regulatory commissions except for "cause." A ruling in favor of the administration could strengthen presidential control over agencies that regulate various aspects of American life, while a ruling in Slaughter's favor could greatly restrict the president's powers.
The stakes are enormous, as independent regulatory agencies and boards play a crucial role in managing almost every aspect of American life, from transportation safety and labor relations to the environment and finance. The Supreme Court's decisions in these cases could have far-reaching implications for the balance of power in the federal government and the role of independent agencies in regulating the economy and protecting the public interest. Additionally, the court's ruling on a federal law capping coordinated spending between political parties and candidates could further reshape the landscape of campaign finance and the influence of money in politics.
Mississippi is one of about 14 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories that permit a grace period ranging from one day to several weeks during which regular ballots can be counted, so long as those ballots are postmarked on or before Election Day. This is currently the case in California, where final results from the June 2 election may not be known for another couple of weeks or more. The justices are deciding whether federal Election Day statutes preempt various state laws and may clarify exactly what "the election" means when it comes to the casting and receipt of ballots. The outcome could rest with Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who could cast the deciding votes.
The court is also considering a pair of cases involving transgender athletes and school sports. In Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., the justices are weighing whether state laws that restrict transgender girls and women from competing on female athletic teams violate the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause or federal protections under Title IX. Almost 30 states have laws limiting participation for transgender females who were designated male at birth, in both public school and college athletics, and officials say their restrictions are a matter of ensuring a level playing field and student safety.
But lawyers for a high school sophomore and a college senior counter that those prohibitions are clearly discriminatory, and that the issues should be about equality and dignity for every student, free from politics and misinformation. The high court is examining whether the laws unconstitutionally discriminate on the basis of sex.
The challenge targets a Hawaii law that prohibits individuals, including concealed-carry permit holders, from bringing firearms onto private property open to the public unless the owner has expressly granted permission. This case could come down to whether property rights trump gun rights, and how those rights interact. A group of gun owners in Maui are challenging those default permission rules, arguing the law improperly makes it a crime to bear arms even where the owner of property accessible to the public is merely silent.
Hawaii officials told the high court the restrictions balance gun and property rights, citing a long tradition in the state of limiting all kinds of dangerous weapons, dating back to when it was a monarchy. A separate Second Amendment case still unresolved deals with the federal government's law banning people with a "habitual" use of marijuana from legally keeping a firearm. The "guns and ganja" dispute centers on whether the widespread use of cannabis in recent decades — legal in some form in 40 states — makes criminalizing "mere possession" contingent on firearm ownership.
Another closely watched case is Trump v. Sierra Club, which revolves around the president's emergency declaration to divert funds for the construction of a border wall. The case raises questions about the limits of executive power, particularly in regards to the appropriation of funds without congressional approval. The Supreme Court's ruling could either reaffirm or restrict the president's ability to unilaterally declare national emergencies and allocate funds without legislative oversight.
The court is also set to rule on a case involving the Trump administration's efforts to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census, a move that was blocked by lower courts. The case, Department of Commerce v. New York, has significant implications for the distribution of federal funds and congressional representation. A ruling in favor of the administration could lead to a significant undercount of immigrant communities, potentially altering the electoral landscape.
Additionally, the Supreme Court will decide on the constitutionality of a Louisiana abortion law, June Medical Services v. Russo, which could have significant implications for reproductive rights in the United States. The case centers on a law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital, a requirement that critics argue is unnecessary and would effectively shut down abortion clinics in the state. The court's decision could either uphold or strike down the law, potentially setting a precedent for similar laws in other states.
The administration's argument that the Department of Homeland Security has broad discretion to end Temporary Protected Status protections for migrants from certain countries has been countered by migrant advocates, who argue that federal law requires specific procedures and allows courts to review those decisions. The conservative court majority's support for the Homeland Security secretary's discretionary power to revoke deportation protections for 13 countries on the TPS list has significant implications for the lives of hundreds of thousands of migrants.
In a separate case, Trump v. Cook, the justices are weighing whether President Trump can dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, with the court appearing ready to give the president a major legal setback. The questions of presidential power in this case deal with whether Trump has broad unilateral executive authority to fire someone from the central bank, despite its special status as a stand-alone federal agency. During oral arguments, most justices seemed skeptical of Trump's actions, with Justice Brett Kavanaugh expressing concerns about the potential erosion of the Federal Reserve's independence.
A related case, Trump v. Slaughter, could have even broader implications, as former Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter challenges her removal from the agency. This case sets up a direct test of a 1935 Supreme Court precedent that limits a president's ability to fire members of independent regulatory commissions except for "cause." A ruling in favor of the administration could strengthen presidential control over agencies that regulate various aspects of American life, while a ruling in Slaughter's favor could greatly restrict the president's powers.
The stakes are enormous, as independent regulatory agencies and boards play a crucial role in managing almost every aspect of American life, from transportation safety and labor relations to the environment and finance. The Supreme Court's decisions in these cases could have far-reaching implications for the balance of power in the federal government and the role of independent agencies in regulating the economy and protecting the public interest. Additionally, the court's ruling on a federal law capping coordinated spending between political parties and candidates could further reshape the landscape of campaign finance and the influence of money in politics.
Mississippi is one of about 14 states, the District of Columbia, and three territories that permit a grace period ranging from one day to several weeks during which regular ballots can be counted, so long as those ballots are postmarked on or before Election Day. This is currently the case in California, where final results from the June 2 election may not be known for another couple of weeks or more. The justices are deciding whether federal Election Day statutes preempt various state laws and may clarify exactly what "the election" means when it comes to the casting and receipt of ballots. The outcome could rest with Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who could cast the deciding votes.
The court is also considering a pair of cases involving transgender athletes and school sports. In Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., the justices are weighing whether state laws that restrict transgender girls and women from competing on female athletic teams violate the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause or federal protections under Title IX. Almost 30 states have laws limiting participation for transgender females who were designated male at birth, in both public school and college athletics, and officials say their restrictions are a matter of ensuring a level playing field and student safety.
But lawyers for a high school sophomore and a college senior counter that those prohibitions are clearly discriminatory, and that the issues should be about equality and dignity for every student, free from politics and misinformation. The high court is examining whether the laws unconstitutionally discriminate on the basis of sex.
The challenge targets a Hawaii law that prohibits individuals, including concealed-carry permit holders, from bringing firearms onto private property open to the public unless the owner has expressly granted permission. This case could come down to whether property rights trump gun rights, and how those rights interact. A group of gun owners in Maui are challenging those default permission rules, arguing the law improperly makes it a crime to bear arms even where the owner of property accessible to the public is merely silent.
Hawaii officials told the high court the restrictions balance gun and property rights, citing a long tradition in the state of limiting all kinds of dangerous weapons, dating back to when it was a monarchy. A separate Second Amendment case still unresolved deals with the federal government's law banning people with a "habitual" use of marijuana from legally keeping a firearm. The "guns and ganja" dispute centers on whether the widespread use of cannabis in recent decades — legal in some form in 40 states — makes criminalizing "mere possession" contingent on firearm ownership.
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