Supreme Court justices return for new term on guns, immigration and more

The Supreme Court opens its new term Monday after a summer of urgent rulings that touched the November midterms. On those emergency matters, the court turned away President Donald Trump's restrictions on mail ballots and refused to let Missouri use a congressional map that might have handed Republicans an extra House seat, though it permitted ballroom construction at the White House despite a dissent from Chief Justice John Roberts. Trump answered on social media by disparaging the three justices he appointed who ruled against him, while praising Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito as "legends.", according to MS NOW.

Monday's first argument is Suncor v. Boulder, where oil and gas companies want a Colorado state-court suit over climate damages shut down, arguing federal law bars it. Alito stepped aside because of his financial interest in the energy sector, so an eight-member court could split 4-4, which would leave the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling intact.

Later cases include whether the Second Amendment covers AR-15 ownership, Arizona's proof-of-citizenship rule, and the administration's mass detention policy and deportations to countries other than migrants' homelands. Trump is urging review of the $83.3 million defamation judgment won by E. Jean Carroll.

Summarized by PolitiKool from MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at MS NOW →