High-profile Supreme Court cases to watch in 2023-24

The Supreme Court is set to decide several key cases in its 2023-24 term, covering a range of hot-button issues.

With nearly three dozen appeals already on the docket and several dozen more expected to be added in the coming months, the caseload promises to be significant.

Some of the important appeals that may be added to the court's calendar include issues such as abortion medication, social media regulation, affirmative action in secondary school education, 2020 election interference prosecutions, and other 2024 election disputes.

These cases have the potential to have a profound impact on society and could shape the future of various legal and social issues.

Among the cases scheduled for argument are:

1. Major gun rights case challenging the constitutionality of a federal ban on gun possession by individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders.

This case will test the precedent set by the court's 2022 ruling expanding gun rights outside the home. The Biden administration argues that disarming individuals who pose a threat to others is essential for public safety.

2. Challenge to the constitutionality of the federal law providing funding to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

This case questions the unique funding process of the CFPB and whether it operates outside the normal appropriations process. A ruling against the CFPB could have far-reaching implications for the agency's authority and similar quasi-independent agencies.

3. Legal challenge to the South Carolina legislature's redrawing of congressional voting boundaries, which civil rights groups claim disenfranchised Black voters.

This case centers around allegations of racial gerrymandering in South Carolina and could impact ongoing redistricting efforts in multiple states.

4. Potential appeal over the so-called 'Chevron' deference, which allows federal agencies broad discretion in interpreting and enforcing ambiguous statutes.

This appeal challenges the extent of federal agency authority and could have significant consequences for areas such as the environment, workplace safety, consumer protections, public health, and immigration.

5. Efforts to block a bankruptcy settlement for OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, which has been criticized for shielding the Sackler family from personal liability in the opioid crisis.

This case raises questions about accountability and the role of pharmaceutical companies in addressing the opioid epidemic that has ravaged communities across the United States.

6. Lawsuits seeking to restrict access to mifepristone, a drug used in medicated abortions, could also find their way to the Supreme Court.

These cases focus on the FDA's regulation of mifepristone and could have a profound impact on women's reproductive rights and access to abortion services.

Additionally, state laws attempting to regulate social media platforms' handling of user content may also face legal challenges.

These laws aim to address concerns about bias and censorship, but they raise important questions about free speech and the role of private companies in regulating online discourse.

As the Supreme Court prepares to take on these high-profile cases, the decisions reached by the justices will undoubtedly shape the legal landscape and have ripple effects throughout society.

It will be crucial for Americans to stay informed and engaged as these cases unfold, as they have the potential to impact fundamental rights and the course of the nation.