US Supreme Court term begins Monday: Key details to know
The U.S. Supreme Court’s next term is set to begin on Monday, and it promises to be an eventful one. Several significant cases are on the docket, including ones that could have far-reaching implications for federal regulatory agencies and the regulation of content on social media platforms.
Second Amendment
The court has agreed to hear U.S. v. Rahimi, a case that could determine whether a federal law banning individuals with restraining orders due to domestic violence from possessing firearms violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
The case involves Zackey Rahimi, a Texas man who was charged with illegal gun possession while subject to a domestic violence restraining order. Rahimi is challenging the law after being charged under it in 2021.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans declared the 1994 law unconstitutional in February, but later withdrew its opinion following the Supreme Court’s landmark Second Amendment ruling last year.
Social Media Cases
Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to review the legality of Republican-backed state laws in Texas and Florida that restrict social media companies’ ability to moderate content on their platforms.
The justices will also hear two cases involving challenges to state laws that restrict the content moderation practices of social media platforms. Technology industry groups argue that these laws violate the First Amendment’s protections for freedom of speech. Lower courts have issued conflicting rulings on the issue, with Florida’s law being partially struck down and Texas’ law being upheld.
The Biden administration has urged the Supreme Court to review these cases, arguing that the state laws infringe on the rights of the companies.
In May of this year, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked Texas from enforcing its law. However, no opinion was issued at the time.
Justice Samuel Alito, in a dissenting opinion, questioned how existing precedents should apply to large social media companies in the age of the internet. Justices Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch joined him in the dissenting opinion.
Federal Regulatory Agencies
One case before the court challenges the funding mechanism of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. If the court rules against the government, it could have implications for the power of other independent federal agencies, such as the Federal Service.
The case, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. Community Financial Services Association of America, is an appeal of a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that found the agency’s use of the Federal Reserve System to fund its operations unconstitutional.
A ruling in this case is expected by the end of June. The court’s conservative majority has previously limited the regulatory power of federal agencies in recent rulings.
Another case challenges the authority of judges at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to decide cases involving securities fraud. Previously, these cases were handled by the judicial branch rather than the executive branch.
There is also a case filed by four East Coast fishing companies that questions the legality of a rule mandating them to pay for boat monitors to record their catches. The companies argue that it is unclear whether federal law allows the Department of Commerce to impose such a rule.
Election Cases
The Supreme Court has also agreed to hear a redistricting case in South Carolina. A lower court ruled that the state must redraw its congressional map because a district was intentionally redrawn to reduce the number of Democratic-leaning black voters.
The lawsuit is supported by several left-leaning groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union. The state appealed the lower court ruling to the Supreme Court.
The district that could be affected is currently represented by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.), a Republican who narrowly defeated her Democratic opponent in 2020.
Trump Cases
There are also several election-related cases involving former President Donald Trump that could come before the court. Federal and state courts have been considering appeals related to indictments in Washington, Florida, New York, and Georgia. It remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court will be asked to issue a decision on these cases.
Additionally, some activist groups have filed lawsuits in several states to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot in future elections, arguing that the Fourteenth Amendment’s insurrection clause prohibits him from doing so. Legal analysts have questioned the strength of these arguments, and some secretaries of state, including Michigan Democrat Jocelyn Benson, have stated that they will not take action to exclude Trump from 2024 ballots.
Amendment question at hand, this case raises several First Amendment issues. Does prohibiting individuals with restraining orders from possessing firearms violate their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and association? How does the regulation of firearms relate to the regulation of content on social media platforms? To what extent can federal regulatory agencies like the U.S. Supreme Court intervene in cases involving domestic violence restraining orders and the Second Amendment
The U.S. Supreme Court’s upcoming term is poised to be momentous, with several significant cases on the docket that could have far-reaching implications for federal regulatory agencies and the regulation of content on social media platforms.
One of the cases set to be heard is U.S. v. Rahimi, which will determine whether a federal law prohibiting individuals with restraining orders due to domestic violence from possessing firearms violates the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The case involves Zackey Rahimi, a Texas man charged with illegal gun possession while subject to a domestic violence restraining order. Rahimi is challenging the law after being charged under it in 2021.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals initially ruled the 1994 law unconstitutional in February but later withdrew its opinion following the Supreme Court’s landmark Second Amendment ruling last year.
In addition to the Second
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