The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to issue its final decision on Tuesday, June 30, for a nine-month term that will include disputes involving President Donald Trump’s efforts to limit birthright citizenship, Republican challenges to campaign finance limits and state crackdowns on transgender athletes.
Here’s a look at the three most important rulings still expected from the nation’s highest court before the summer recess.
birthright citizenship
The ruling on birthright citizenship is expected to have the most impact in this term. The justices will decide whether the president can limit automatic citizenship for some children born in the United States after a lower court blocked the policy as unconstitutional.
The controversy centers on the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which has long been interpreted to guarantee citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil. Trump’s decision could overturn that precedent and have far-reaching implications for immigration policy.
transgender athlete
The court is also considering the legality of laws in Idaho and West Virginia that prohibit transgender athletes from competing on women’s sports teams in public schools and universities.
Conservative justices appear to accept the state’s argument that the law will ensure fairness in women’s sports, but opponents say it is part of a broader effort to restrict transgender rights.
Campaign funding limits
In another high-stakes case, the court is considering a Republican-backed challenge to federal limits on how much political parties can spend in collaboration with candidates.
The debate hinges on whether these caps violate the First Amendment’s free speech protections. Lower courts have upheld the restrictions, but several conservative justices have indicated they would back down.
Contributor: Reuters
