Decision time for Supreme Court on big, hot-button questions; justices hear final oral arguments

Supreme Court rulings this term will advance federal law on the powers of the presidency and the administrative state and clarify decisions in recent years on abortion and the Second Amendment.

Last week, the justices heard final arguments of the 2023 term in cases that test whether cities can fine homeless encampments that create public health and safety concerns, whether emergency rooms must perform abortions in states that ban the procedure, and whether former President Donald Trump has absolute immunity from criminal charges.

Court watchers say the justices will work diligently to issue opinions on those cases and more by the end of June or early July before their summer recess.

“The Court is behind the usual pace of deciding cases. There are no significant cases decided yet. June should be a crunch,” said Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law.