Supreme Court Abruptly Changes Schedule

An exterior view of the Supreme Court on June 20, 2024 in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court declined to take up the case of death row inmate James Broadnax on Monday.

In an unexpected move, the U.S. Supreme Court has announced additional opinion days this week, signaling a potential rush to conclude its current term. The nation's highest court added Thursday and Friday to its schedule, supplementing the previously announced Wednesday session.

The change was revealed in a post on X, formerly Twitter, by Josh Gerstein, a senior legal affairs reporter, who wrote: "JUST IN: #SCOTUS announces Thursday and Friday of this week as opinion days in addition to previously announced Wednesday. Still a chance to clear the decks by Friday.

The development comes as the court faces a backlog of more than two dozen cases awaiting decisions. The justices typically aim to wrap up their term by late June or early July, taking a recess until the next session begins on the first Monday in October, as mandated by law.

The expanded schedule raises speculation about the court's intent to expedite rulings on several high-profile cases. Among the most anticipated is a decision on whether presidential immunity shields former President Donald Trump from criminal charges related to his actions while in office. The case has garnered significant attention because of its potential implications for executive power and accountability.

Another crucial case awaiting resolution is Moyle v. United States, which centers on Idaho's abortion ban and its interaction with the federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act. The outcome could have far-reaching consequences for abortion access nationwide, particularly in states where the procedure has been banned following the overturning of Roe v. Wadein 2022.

The court is also expected to rule on United States v. Rahimi, which will determine the constitutionality of a federal law prohibiting people under domestic violence restraining orders from possessing firearms. The decision could have significant implications for gun rights and domestic violence prevention efforts.

Additionally, the justices are set to address two cases concerning government regulation of social media content, including the censorship of certain political views. The rulings could reshape the landscape of online speech and platform moderation policies.

Another noteworthy case, Fischer v. United States, will decide whether federal prosecutors can charge people involved in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol with obstruction of an official proceeding. The ruling could impact ongoing prosecutions related to the events of that day.

Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Supreme Court via email for comment.

Legal experts suggest that the move may be aimed at avoiding an overwhelming number of rulings in one day.

Dan Urman, a law professor specializing in the U.S. Supreme Court at Northeastern University, previously told Newsweek that it was not unexpected for the court to add order days, given the amount of cases before them, adding that the "justices would like to be finished with the term by the end of June and probably want to avoid issuing too many decisions on a single day."

With the addition of these extra sessions, the court appears poised to deliver a flurry of consequential decisions before the month's end, potentially altering the course of multiple legal and political debates across the country.

Start your unlimited Newsweek trial