Supreme Court begins new term with climate change, immigration and gun rights cases

The U.S. Supreme Court begins its new nine-month term on October 5, 2026, with its 6-3 conservative majority poised to rule on highly contentious issues. Key cases on the docket include a landmark climate change lawsuit from Boulder, Colorado, seeking damages from Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy, challenges to state-level AR-15 bans, and Arizona's strict voter proof-of-citizenship laws. The justices will also review the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies, including mandatory detentions and third-country deportations, alongside a major religious liberty dispute over Colorado's taxpayer-funded preschool program.

Climate change lawsuit against energy companies

• ▪Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy argue that federal law, including the Clean Air Act, preempts Boulder County's state-law claims and that allowing such suits would effectively impose a carbon tax on fossil-fuel producers
• ▪Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, with financial disclosures showing he owns stock in energy companies ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66
• ▪The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments on October 5, 2026, in Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, a lawsuit filed by the city and county of Boulder, Colorado, seeking monetary damages from Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil for climate change costs

Challenges to semiautomatic rifle bans

• ▪The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments on December 2, 2026, in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins, which challenge state and local bans on AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles in Illinois and Connecticut
• ▪Petitioners challenging the Cook County AR-15 ban cite a prior opinion by Justice Brett Kavanaugh arguing that AR-15s are in common use by law-abiding citizens and are protected by the Second Amendment

Arizona proof of citizenship voting dispute

• ▪In August 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States allowed Arizona to enforce its proof-of-citizenship requirement for the general election, but blocked enforcement for presidential voting or voting by mail
• ▪The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments on December 8, 2026, in Republican National Committee v. Mi Familia Vota, which addresses Arizona's 2022 voting rules requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote

Religious preschool funding dispute in Colorado

• ▪The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit upheld Colorado's universal preschool program's nondiscrimination rule, finding it does not violate the free exercise rights of St. Mary Catholic Parish
• ▪The Supreme Court of the United States will hear arguments on November 3, 2026, in St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, which involves a Catholic preschool in Colorado seeking state funding while excluding LGBTQ families

Public approval of the court

• ▪According to the September 2026 Gallup poll, 65 percent of Republicans, 12 percent of Democrats, and 31 percent of independents approve of the Supreme Court
• ▪A Gallup poll conducted September 1 to 17, 2026, showed that only 34 percent of Americans approve of the Supreme Court, while 61 percent disapprove

Debatable claims

• ▪The Second Amendment protects the right to possess AR-15-style semiautomatic rifles
• ▪Mandatory detention of undocumented immigrants without bond hearings violates the Due Process Clause
• ▪Deporting migrants to third countries without notice or a hearing violates due process
• ▪Federal law preempts local climate change lawsuits against fossil fuel companies