By JANE DOE and JOHN SMITH
WASHINGTON (AP) — As the current term of the Supreme Court nears its end, the focus has been on emergency appeals from the Trump administration to counter lower court rulings hindering President Donald Trump’s initiatives to reshape the federal government.
Aside from these emergency appeals, the justices have six cases from January to mid-May that still need to be resolved. One such case is an emergency appeal regarding Trump’s executive order denying birthright citizenship to children of parents in the country illegally.
The remaining opinions are expected to be delivered on Friday, according to Chief Justice John Roberts. In a divided decision on Thursday, the court allowed states to cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood, aligning with a broader Republican effort to defund the organization.
Here are some of the significant cases still pending:
Challenges to Trump’s birthright citizenship order
The court rarely hears arguments on emergency appeals, but in this case, it granted the administration’s request to narrow orders blocking the implementation of citizenship changes nationwide.
The main issue is whether judges should have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions, which have been a point of contention for both Republican and Democratic administrations over the past decade.
During arguments, the justices seemed inclined to maintain the block on citizenship restrictions while exploring ways to limit nationwide court orders. The concern was raised about the consequences of allowing the administration to temporarily deny citizenship to children born to parents in the country illegally.
Opponents of Trump’s executive order, including Democratic-led states and rights groups, argue that it would disrupt the longstanding understanding of birthright citizenship.
Religious rights case in Maryland over LGBTQ storybooks in schools
Parents in the Montgomery County school system are challenging the use of storybooks in lessons that depict LGBTQ themes. The district initially allowed parents to opt their children out of such lessons but later reversed the policy due to disruptions.
The introduction of these storybooks in 2022 sparked controversy, with titles like “Prince and Knight” and “Uncle Bobby’s Wedding.” The case is part of a series of religious rights cases before the court this term, amidst a trend of book bans in public schools and libraries.
Dispute over congressional districts in Louisiana
The Supreme Court is revisiting a case involving the redrawing of congressional districts in Louisiana. Lower courts have invalidated two maps since 2022, raising questions about the role of race and politics in drawing political boundaries.
The current map includes a second Black majority district, which critics argue was drawn based on race rather than politics. The case reflects the court’s stance on redistricting and the Voting Rights Act.
Texas law targeting online pornography
A Texas law aimed at restricting children’s access to online pornography is being challenged for its impact on adults’ constitutional rights. Several states have similar laws, but concerns have been raised about the broad reach of these measures.
The Supreme Court is considering whether the Texas law violates the First Amendment rights of adults while trying to protect children from explicit content. The outcome of this case could have implications for similar laws across the country.
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