The Supreme Court's new term starts next week. Here's what to know and the cases to watch.
CBSN
Washington — The Supreme Court will kick off its new term Monday, taking the bench for the first time since the justices handed down blockbuster decisions over the summer on guns, a widely used abortion pill, the regulatory power of federal agencies and presidential immunity.
The upcoming term, which will stretch into June 2025, is shaping up so far to be quieter than the Supreme Court's last. But the justices are still poised to hear cases on hot-button issues like LGBTQ rights, an age-verification law for pornographic websites and the Biden administration's efforts to combat gun violence.
And looming over the start of the new term is the November election, which could bring legal battles over the presidential contest before the high court. The justices have already been asked to intervene in disputes over Arizona's proof-of-citizenship voting requirements and efforts by Green Party candidate Jill Stein and independent Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., to be restored to the ballots in Nevada and New York, respectively.
In 2023, more than 12 million BB and pellet guns were bought in the United States. Many have roughly the same weight, markings and finishes as real guns. But these look-alike replica guns aren't federally required to have any clear indicators that they don't shoot bullets. In most states they are available for adults to purchase without background checks or restrictions.
High housing costs are a serious pain point for millions of Americans, with many shut out of the real estate market by record-high home prices and others plagued by spiraling rents. During Tuesday's vice presidential debate, Sen. JD Vance pointed to what he views as a major cause of the affordability crisis: immigration.