Despite the current federal government shutdown, the United States Supreme Court starts its 2013 term tomorrow.
Campaign funding, abortion, contraception and religion are some of the issues that have made it to the Court’s list of cases to be heard.
Included on that list is a case from Oklahoma regarding the use of the abortion bill and pregnant women seeking abortions having to undergo ultrasound tests to see the fetus prior to having an abortion.
Also on the Court’s docket is a case from Arizona dealing with the state’s ban on abortions after the 20[SUP]th[/SUP] week of pregnancy.
Arizona’s attorneys are asking the court to uphold the ban, which was blocked under Roe v. Wade.
According to Irving Gornstein, Executive Director of the Supreme Court Institute at the Georgetown University's law school, the upcoming term "is actually deeper in important cases than either of the last two terms."
However, the first cases to be heard start this week, and deal campaign funding and prayers at town council meetings.
On Tuesday, the court will hear an appeal brought by the Republican National Committee and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that challenges the $123,000 total limit on how much donors may give to congressional candidates and political parties.
They want the court to say contributions, like political spending, are fully protected as free speech.
On Nov. 6, the court will consider whether town leaders can invite a Christian minister to open their meetings with a prayer to Jesus Christ.
The case is Town of Greece (N.Y.) vs. Galloway.
By next spring, the justices may revisit part of President Obama's healthcare law to decide a religious-rights challenge to the requirement that large private employers provide their workers with coverage for contraceptives.
Dozens of employers who run for-profit companies have sued, contending that providing health insurance that includes a full range of contraceptives violates their religious beliefs.
In recent years, gay rights advocates have pushed cases toward the high court, confident that Kennedy and the four justices on his left would rule in their favor.
Advocates on the right are using the same strategy.
They have been pushing cases toward the court confident that Kennedy will join the four conservatives to rule in their favor on religion, affirmative action, campaign finance and abortion.
In their legal briefs, they argue for broad rulings and a significant shift in the law.
Justice Kennedy signaled the potential for a major shift on abortion regulation six years ago.
He spoke for a 5-4 majority to uphold the federal ban on "partial-birth abortions" and declared the "government has a legitimate and substantial interest in preserving and promoting fetal life."
Since 2010, Arizona and 12 states have adopted bans on abortion after 20 weeks, citing "scientific evidence of fetal pain."
Some of these states have adopted laws mandating ultrasound tests for patients seeking abortions and requiring costly changes in clinic facilities.
Although some measures have been blocked by federal judges, the goal was to get the issue to the Supreme Court.
It will be many months before the court decides whether it will take up an abortion regulation, but leaders of the antiabortion movement are hopeful.
Campaign funding, abortion, contraception and religion are some of the issues that have made it to the Court’s list of cases to be heard.
Included on that list is a case from Oklahoma regarding the use of the abortion bill and pregnant women seeking abortions having to undergo ultrasound tests to see the fetus prior to having an abortion.
Also on the Court’s docket is a case from Arizona dealing with the state’s ban on abortions after the 20[SUP]th[/SUP] week of pregnancy.
Arizona’s attorneys are asking the court to uphold the ban, which was blocked under Roe v. Wade.
According to Irving Gornstein, Executive Director of the Supreme Court Institute at the Georgetown University's law school, the upcoming term "is actually deeper in important cases than either of the last two terms."
However, the first cases to be heard start this week, and deal campaign funding and prayers at town council meetings.
On Tuesday, the court will hear an appeal brought by the Republican National Committee and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) that challenges the $123,000 total limit on how much donors may give to congressional candidates and political parties.
They want the court to say contributions, like political spending, are fully protected as free speech.
On Nov. 6, the court will consider whether town leaders can invite a Christian minister to open their meetings with a prayer to Jesus Christ.
The case is Town of Greece (N.Y.) vs. Galloway.
By next spring, the justices may revisit part of President Obama's healthcare law to decide a religious-rights challenge to the requirement that large private employers provide their workers with coverage for contraceptives.
Dozens of employers who run for-profit companies have sued, contending that providing health insurance that includes a full range of contraceptives violates their religious beliefs.
In recent years, gay rights advocates have pushed cases toward the high court, confident that Kennedy and the four justices on his left would rule in their favor.
Advocates on the right are using the same strategy.
They have been pushing cases toward the court confident that Kennedy will join the four conservatives to rule in their favor on religion, affirmative action, campaign finance and abortion.
In their legal briefs, they argue for broad rulings and a significant shift in the law.
Justice Kennedy signaled the potential for a major shift on abortion regulation six years ago.
He spoke for a 5-4 majority to uphold the federal ban on "partial-birth abortions" and declared the "government has a legitimate and substantial interest in preserving and promoting fetal life."
Since 2010, Arizona and 12 states have adopted bans on abortion after 20 weeks, citing "scientific evidence of fetal pain."
Some of these states have adopted laws mandating ultrasound tests for patients seeking abortions and requiring costly changes in clinic facilities.
Although some measures have been blocked by federal judges, the goal was to get the issue to the Supreme Court.
It will be many months before the court decides whether it will take up an abortion regulation, but leaders of the antiabortion movement are hopeful.