Four key cases to monitor as Supreme Court prepares for December session

The Supreme Court is gearing up for a pivotal session as it resumes after Thanksgiving, with significant cases on the docket, including disputes over presidential authority, campaign finance rules, and First Amendment protections for pregnancy centers in New Jersey. Here are four key cases to follow over the coming two weeks.

Presidential Authority Over Federal Agencies

During his second term, former President Trump has aimed to reduce the independence of federal agencies by seeking to remove their leaders without cause. This effort will face a decisive moment on December 8, when the Court will hear arguments regarding Trumps attempt to dismiss a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This case challenges the 90-year-old precedent set in Humphreys Executor v. United States, which limits the presidents power to remove FTC commissioners and similar agency officials. Lower courts have largely upheld these restrictions, but the White House views the Supreme Court as the ultimate venue to potentially overturn them. Solicitor General D. John Sauer will personally argue the case, underscoring its importance to the administration.

Major Campaign Finance Case

The next day, the Supreme Court will hear a high-profile campaign finance case. Republicans, including Senate and House campaign committees, along with JD Vance and Steve Chabot, challenge federal limits on political parties coordinating spending with their candidates, citing First Amendment free speech rights. They argue that parties naturally need to communicate with their candidates to support election campaigns effectively. Opponents warn that removing limits could allow donors to circumvent legal restrictions and funnel money to candidates indirectly. The Trump administration supports the challenge, while the Democratic National Committee defends the law. Prominent attorneys, including Marc Elias and Roman Martinez, will represent both sides.

Pregnancy Centers First Amendment Challenge

On Tuesday, the Court will consider a case involving First Choice Womens Resource Centers, which runs faith-based pregnancy centers in New Jersey. The centers seek to block a subpoena from Attorney General Matthew Platkin demanding donor information, claiming it violates their free speech rights. The dispute does not directly address abortion rights but focuses on whether the subpoena chills their First Amendment protections. Lower courts rejected the groups federal challenge, leaving them caught in a legal Catch-22. The centers are represented by Alliance Defending Freedom and supported by various Republican politicians and organizations, while Platkin emphasizes that no court has yet ordered disclosure of donor information.

Street Preachers Free Speech Case

Another First Amendment case involves Gabriel Olivier, a street preacher in Mississippi. Olivier protests with loudspeakers and signs outside a public amphitheater, using language that led to his arrest under a local ordinance. He seeks federal relief to prevent future arrests, appealing after lower courts rejected his civil rights lawsuit. The Supreme Court will examine whether prior convictions bar him from obtaining prospective protection under the 1994 precedent governing civil rights claims.

These cases mark a critical period for the Supreme Court as it addresses the balance of presidential authority, campaign finance regulation, and First Amendment protections.

Author: Sophia Brooks