The Supreme Court opens a new session today. Lots of important cases are on the docket:
The first blockbuster case — a lawsuit challenging affirmative action in college admissions. The court will hear oral arguments in the case on Oct. 10, only the second week of the term. . . .
Another racially charged case could join the docket if justices take up a challenge to part of the Voting Rights Act. On the heels of an election with rampant charges of voter fraud and suppression, the court could weigh whether states with a history of discrimination should be required to get approval from Washington before changing their voting laws.
Walsh also said there’s a good chance the court will take up the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which prohibits the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages. Two challenges to DOMA have been appealed to the high court, and a challenge to California’s Proposition 8 is also in the mix.
Legal experts say there’s no question the Supreme Court will rule on same-sex marriage in the near future; the only questions are which case or cases it will hear, and how quickly. . . .
Social issues aren’t the only big cases on the court’s horizon. The term will begin Monday with a closely watched case over whether U.S. judges can hear certain international cases.
The case was argued previously, but some justices seemed to want to rule on a broader question, so a re-hearing was scheduled. The last time that happened was the polarizing Citizens United case on campaign finance reform.
The justices will also consider police officers’ use of drug-sniffing dogs and possible invasions of privacy. A pair of cases set for argument in late October deal with canine units and the scope of the Constitution’s ban on illegal search and seizure.
via Controversial cases await justices – The Hill – covering Congress, Politics, Political Campaigns and Capitol Hill | TheHill.com.
This reminds us of another issue in the presidential race: Who gets to appoint Supreme Court justices? At least a couple are in their 80s, and those life terms can have a big impact. Any predictions as to how any of these cases will be decided? Can there be any doubt that the Supreme Court, despite or perhaps even because of its conservative bloc, will rule in favor of gay marriage?
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