Supreme Court’s New Term to Feature Climate, Religious, Gun and Immigration Cases
The Court begins its October term with arguments on a Colorado climate-change lawsuit, a Colorado religious-preschool dispute, gun-rights challenges and several immigration cases tied to the Trump administration.
The Supreme Court will open its new term on Oct. 5 with arguments in a Colorado case where Boulder County seeks to hold energy firms accountable for climate-change impacts. The dispute centers on whether federal law bars the county from suing Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil in state court over alleged deceptive marketing of fossil fuels. The justices will also consider whether they have jurisdiction to review the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision that allowed the suit to proceed.
"That climate change is a global problem does not disempower states from redressing its local harms either," Boulder County officials wrote.
Justice Samuel Alito will recuse from the case.
On Nov. 3, the Court will hear St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, a challenge by a Catholic preschool to Colorado’s universal pre-school program. The school argues that the program’s nondiscrimination requirement forces it to admit families whose religious beliefs differ on gender identity and sexual orientation, violating the Free Exercise Clause. Lower courts have upheld the state’s rule as neutral and generally applicable.
Two gun-rights cases are slated for Dec. 2. Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins involve state bans on AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles in Illinois and Connecticut. Both lower courts applied the Supreme Court’s 2022 historical-tradition test for firearm regulations and upheld the bans.
The Court will also consider a Washington state parental-rights case, International Partners for Ethical Care v. Ferguson, on Dec. 7. The suit questions whether parents can challenge state laws that exempt shelters caring for runaway teens seeking gender-dysphoria treatment from parental notification requirements.
Arizona’s voter-registration rule, Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, is set for Dec. 8. The case examines whether a state-mandated proof-of-citizenship requirement and voter-roll cleanup procedures conflict with the National Voter Registration Act and a prior consent decree.
Immigration matters will dominate several other arguments. On Dec. 9, Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D. will address the legality of “third-country” removals under a 2025 policy, while Rhoney v. Barbosa da Cunha concerns the constitutionality of mandatory detention without bond hearings for non-citizens.
The Court may also take up additional Trump-era issues, including the legality of a transgender military ban, challenges to acting U.S. attorney appointments, and a defamation judgment involving President Donald Trump.