As the US Supreme Court approaches its summer recess, several high-stakes decisions are still pending. Opinions are expected this Thursday, with five cases standing out for their potential impact:
1. Birthright Citizenship and Judicial Authority
At the heart of this case is Donald Trump’s attempt to end birthright citizenship — the constitutional guarantee that children born on US soil are automatically granted citizenship.
Lower courts in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington blocked Trump’s executive order, calling it unconstitutional. Now, the Supreme Court must decide whether a single federal judge can issue nationwide injunctions against executive actions.
The ruling won’t settle the legality of ending birthright citizenship itself but could dramatically limit the judiciary’s power to counter executive orders.
2. Pornography and Age Verification Laws
In Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, the Court is weighing a Texas law that mandates pornographic websites verify users’ ages to prevent minors from accessing adult content. Nearly 20 states have passed similar laws.
A federal district court found the law unconstitutional, stating it restricts adult access to legal material. But an appeals court disagreed, and now the case is before a Supreme Court with a 6-3 conservative majority.
3. LGBTQ Content and Parental Rights in Schools
This religious rights case centers on whether parents in Maryland can withdraw their children from school lessons featuring books that address LGBTQ identities and gender inclusion.
While schools initially allowed opt-outs, they later rescinded the policy, sparking a lawsuit from parents who claim their religious and First Amendment rights were violated. Legal precedent generally supports exposing students to diverse ideas as non-coercive.
4. Planned Parenthood and Medicaid Funding
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster issued a 2018 executive order cutting Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood, even for non-abortion services.
Planned Parenthood sued, arguing that Medicaid patients have the right to choose any qualified provider. An appeals court agreed, but the state has taken the fight to the Supreme Court.
5. Voting Rights and Racial Gerrymandering
This case challenges Louisiana’s congressional map, which added a second Black-majority district. Black residents make up a third of the state’s population but previously had only one such district out of six.
White voters argue the map constitutes unconstitutional racial gerrymandering. The Court’s ruling could influence party control of the House in the 2026 midterms.
Stay informed: These rulings could reshape key aspects of American law and politics — from civil rights to executive power, free speech, and electoral representation.
AFP
