A quick look at the principle questions to be raised this term - drawn from the USA Today's preview.
Affirmative Action
- Schuette v Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action
- Question: Does a state constitutional amendment barring racial preferences in public university admissions violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution.
Legislative Prayer
- Town of Greece v Galloway
- Question: Does a town;s policy of having local clergy recite prayers at government meetings violate the First Amendment's establishment clause when nearly all prayers are Christian?
Housing Discrimination
- Mount Holly v Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action
- Question: Is a government policy, such as redeveloping a blighted neighborhood, permitted under the Fair Housing Act of 1968 if it has a disparate impact on racial minorities?
EPA
- EPA v EME Homer City Generation
- Can the federal government supersede states' authority by setting emissions reduction plans for power plants, based in part on pollution that travels to downwind states?
Recess Appointments
- NLRB v Noel Canning
- Can the president use his recess appointment power to sidestep Senate confirmation during intra-session recesses, or when the vacancy predates the recess, or when the Senate is Meeting every three days in pro-forma sessions?
Abortion Buffer Zones
- McCullen v Coakley
- Can a state set up a buffer zone around reproductive health care facilities that perform abortions, on order to separate patients from protesters?
Medical Abortion
- Cline v Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice
- Can the state limit the administration of abortion-inducing drugs to the protocols specified on their labels, thereby restricting so-call;ed medical abortions?
Health Care Contraception
- Sebelius v. Hobby Lobby Stores
- Can a family owned corporation whose owners oppose abortion refuse to offer health insurance policies that include coverage of contraceptives, as required by President Obama's health care law?
Cell Phones
- Riley v. California
- Can police search the data in a suspect's cellphone during a routine search incident to arrest, without first getting warrant?
