Supreme Court opens new term with climate, guns and immigration cases

The 6-3 conservative court began its 2026-27 term on Monday with a closely watched climate lawsuit; rulings in major cases are expected by the end of June.

Ally Daily Editorial DeskOctober 07, 2026, 11:49 AMUpdated: October 07, 2026, 12:15 PM

Supreme Court opens new term with climate, guns and immigration cases

The U.S. Supreme Court opened its new term on Monday with a docket that again puts major tests of President Donald Trump’s agenda and long-running culture-war disputes before the 6-3 conservative majority. Decisions in the biggest cases are expected by the end of June 2027.

Climate and religion

Supreme Court justices (January 2025)

The justices began with Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, which asks whether federal law bars Boulder County, Colorado, from suing energy companies including Suncor and Exxon Mobil in state court over the effects of climate change. Justice Samuel Alito recused himself without explanation. On Nov. 3, the court will hear whether a Catholic preschool must follow Colorado’s universal preschool nondiscrimination rules.

Guns, voting and immigration

The Supreme Court courtroom (archive)

In December, the court will take up challenges to bans on AR-15-style rifles in Illinois and Connecticut, Arizona’s proof-of-citizenship voting requirement in Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, and the Trump administration’s deportations of migrants to third countries without advance notice. A case over the administration’s policy of detaining undocumented immigrants without bond hearings is expected in early 2027.

The court will also hear whether parents can challenge Washington state’s rules on notifying parents when minors seek treatment for gender dysphoria.