October Term 2025
The Supreme Court is gearing up for its April sitting, with arguments set to begin on Monday. The court has not yet indicated when it will release opinions.
- Featured: The court’s October term 2025 includes several notable cases, including a plea deal reached between an Alaska man and prosecutors who charged him with making threats against a judge and knowingly possessing a handgun despite a prior felony conviction.
- Majority Opinions: The justices have delivered their opinions on various cases, with notable splits among the bench. Chief Justice Roberts has authored two majority opinions, while Justice Thomas has also written two majorities. Justices Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Jackson have each contributed one majority opinion.
A Plea Deal in Alaska
Panos Anastasiou, 77, will plead guilty to threatening to assault and murder six U.S. Supreme Court justices in hundreds of messages sent through the court’s website between March 2023 and fall 2024. Prosecutors have recommended probation with home confinement for Anastasiou, who will appear in a federal court in Anchorage on Thursday for a change of plea hearing.
Tariff Refunds
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has announced that importers seeking tariff refunds will be able to begin filing their requests on April 20. This move is expected to lead to the largest repayment by the US government in its history, with CBP having created a new system for seeking tariff refunds following the February ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that threw out duties imposed using emergency powers.
California’s Conversion Therapy Bill
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling last month in favor of a talk therapist who challenged Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy, California lawmakers are advancing a new strategy to discourage efforts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. A bill introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener would increase the time period during which someone could file a malpractice suit against a mental health professional for trying to change their sexual orientation or gender and harming them in the process.
Texas Attorney General Candidates
U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and state Sen. Mayes Middleton, both Republican candidates for Texas attorney general, have campaigned on the promise of taking on “decades-old Supreme Court precedent” on education, religious freedom, gay marriage, and federal authority over the states. This campaign message is part of a nationwide transformation of state attorney general offices, which were once bureaucratic backwaters but now pursue high-profile partisan litigation.
A Potential Solution to Low Public Approval
In a recent post for his Substack, Jesse Wegman reflected on a potential solution to the recent dramatic drop in public approval of the current Supreme Court: paying more attention to public opinion when deciding cases. Wegman noted that the court at one point did not stray too far from mainstream views but has since ignored its usual close relationship with public opinion.
How the Court Decides Which Cases to Review
In a thorough refresher on the subject, SCOTUSblog examines how the Supreme Court decides which cases to review on the merits. The justices consider various factors, including the significance of the issue, the potential impact on future cases, and the need for clarification or consistency.
- Significance: The court considers whether the case presents a significant issue that warrants review. This can include issues that have implications for large numbers of people or that challenge established precedent.
- Potential Impact: The justices also consider the potential impact of the case on future cases and the need for consistency in the court’s decisions.
- Need for Clarification: The court may review a case if it needs to clarify or correct an issue that has been unclear or misunderstood.
Conclusion
In conclusion, SCOTUSblog’s SCOTUStoday for Tuesday, April 14 provides a comprehensive overview of the Supreme Court’s latest developments. From plea deals and tariff refunds to conversion therapy bills and attorney general candidates, the court is addressing a wide range of important issues. By understanding how the court decides which cases to review on the merits, we can better appreciate the significance of its decisions.