First Monday in October

The first Monday in October marks the opening day of the new Supreme Court term, and this year is no different. During its first week, the Court will hear arguments about federal age discrimination claims, class actions in securities litigation, and ineffective assistance of counsel. It will also hear a major campaign finance case, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, in which the Court will consider a First Amendment “challenge to aggregate limits on contributions to federal candidates and political committees.”

Other major cases coming up this term include Environmental Protection Agency v. EME Homer City Generation, in which the Court will consider whether the D.C. Circuit erred in invalidating an EPA rule that implemented limits on cross-state air pollution, and Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, in which the plaintiffs challenge a Michigan constitutional amendment that prohibits race or sex-based preferential treatment in public university admissions.

Besides SCOTUS Blog, other places to go for Supreme Court information include the Supreme Court’s website, where you can listen to oral arguments, the ABA’s Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases, where you can find the parties’ briefs, and Supreme Podcast. This is shaping up to be another fascinating and controversial term. What will The Nine do? Listen to the arguments, read the briefs, and see if you can anticipate their decisions!