The U.S. Supreme Court’s new term begins Monday, and there are several major cases — involving guns, transgender rights and more — already on the docket for the justices on the nation’s highest court. The 6-3 conservative-majority court could also eventually hear cases related to the upcoming presidential election.
Here is a quick guide to some of the notable cases coming before the court this fall.
‘Ghost guns’
Case:Garland v. VanDerStok
Oral arguments: Oct. 8
What's at stake: The Supreme Court will hear arguments over the legality of "ghost guns," or untraceable, home-assembled firearms that can be made and used by anyone — no background check required. A lower court ruled that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had exceeded its authority in issuing a 2022 regulation that expanded the 1968 Gun Control Act to include parts and kits used to make so-called ghost guns regulated like any other firearm. The Biden administration appealed the ruling.
Read more via Reuters:Supreme Court to hear challenge to Biden's 'ghost guns' curbs
Gender-affirming care for minors
Case:U.S. v. Skrmetti
Oral arguments: Not yet scheduled
What's at stake: The high court will decide the legality of a Republican-backed ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors in Tennessee. In 2023, the state passed a law banning medical treatments — such as hormone treatments and gender-transition surgeries — for patients under the age of 18. The Biden administration appealed a lower court ruling that upheld the ban.
Read more from the Associated Press:Supreme Court will take up state bans on gender-affirming care for minors
Age verification for porn sites
Case: Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton
Oral arguments: Not yet scheduled
What's at stake: The court will consider whether a 2023 Texas law requiring pornographic websites to verify the age of users violates the Constitution's protection against government infringement of free speech. A lower court upheld the state's age-verification requirement for any website that publishes content one-third or more of which is "harmful to minors." A trade group representing adult entertainment companies and performers appealed, arguing that the law imposes a burden on adult access to constitutionally protected expression.
Read more from the Austin American-Statesman:Supreme Court to review age-verification law for porn sites
Flavored vape products
Case: Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC
Oral arguments: Not yet scheduled
What's at stake: The court agreed to hear the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's appeal of a lower court ruling that found the agency improperly denied applications by two e-cigarette companies to sell flavored vape products.
In 2020, the companies filed FDA applications to market various fruit- and candy-flavored versions of their nicotine-laced liquid — with names including “Strawberry Astronaut" and "Bunny Season" — to adults. The FDA rejected the applications, saying the products pose a "known and substantial risk to youth." The lower court ruled that the FDA failed to consider plans by the companies to prevent underage access and use.
Read more via AP:Supreme Court to weigh whether regulators were heavy handed with flavored e-cigarette products
Election challenges loom
The Supreme Court could also take up any number of election-related lawsuits before and after Election Day.
There are already hundreds of pending state and federal cases involving voter registration, access and vote certification. And with the tightly contested Nov. 5 election approaching, plenty more are expected.
The justices also begin their new term amid sagging public confidence. An AP-NORC poll conducted in June found only 16% of respondents said that they had a "great deal" of confidence in the Supreme Court, down from 28% in 2020.
According to the latest polling average compiled by FiveThirtyEight.com, more than half of Americans (54.5%) disapprove of the nation's high court, compared with 37.8% who approve.