The Supreme Court is preparing to release a string of blockbuster rulings that will include decisions on several hot topic items, including former President Donald Trump’s immunity, gun rights, and abortion.
Perhaps the biggest of the still pending cases is former President Trump’s immunity claim that was picked up by the Supreme Court earlier this year. In it, he claims Trump was free from legal burdens over his actions on and around Jan. 6, 2021, because he was operating in an official capacity.
Trump is claiming that he has “absolute immunity” from criminal prosecution and should be freed of special counsel Jack Smith’s federal indictment over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The claim goes so far that Trump’s legal team argued that their client, and every president, should be free from prosecution for anything they do while in office.
During oral arguments, some justices seemed to rule that presidents can’t be prosecuted but could be found liable for acts that aren’t part of their presidential duties.
Still, it’s not clear which way they will lean, and the case could even end up being kicked back to lower courts to help draw the distinction. This could result in Trump’s trial being drawn out past Inauguration Day, which would open another realm of possibilities.
As for the other cases on the docket, the court is set to decide whether a state law that keeps people who are subject to restraining orders for domestic violence from carrying guns should be struck down.
The abortion case still on the table weighs whether or not doctors should be allowed to perform abortions in a medical emergency. A separate case on the FDA’s approval of the abortion medication mifepristone has already been ruled on, with the approval being upheld.
One of the last major cases still waiting for a decision involves laws in Texas and Florida that limit content moderation on social media platforms. While the GOP lawmakers who passed the legislation say it is for safety, big tech has challenged them on First Amendment grounds.
Overall, there are 23 cases still on the table, and the court is expected to deliver all of its decisions before the end of the month.