The High Court Report

United States v. Hemani | Oral Argument: 3/2/2026 | Case No. 24-1234 | Docket Link: Here Overview: Constitutional challenge to federal law criminalizing firearm possession by marijuana users tests Supreme Court's new historical framework for gun regulations after millions potentially face prosecution. Question Presented: Whether 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(3) violates the Second Amendment as applied to res...

Enbridge Energy v. Nessel | Oral Argument: 2/24/2026 | Case No. 24-783 | Docket Link: Here | Overview: Pipeline company removes Michigan environmental lawsuit to federal court two years late, claiming extraordinary circumstances involving international treaty and state forum manipulation justify extending statutory deadline. Question Presented: Can federal may extend the 30-day removal deadline un...

Havana Docks Corp. v. Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | Oral Argument: 2/23/2026 | Case No. 24-983 | Docket Link: Here Question Presented: Whether Title III liability requires proving defendants trafficked in property plaintiff currently owns a claim to, or property plaintiff would own absent confiscation. Overview: Cuban property confiscation case challenges Eleventh Circuit's "counterfactual analys...

Exxon Mobil Corporation v. Corpora Cion Cimex, S.A. (Cuba) | Oral Argument: 2/23/26 | Case No. 24-699 | Docket Link: Here Overview: Constitutional challenge to D.C. Circuit decision dismissing lawsuit against Cuban state-owned companies operating stolen American oil facilities raises fundamental questions about congressional authority to override sovereign immunity for targeted foreign policy obje...

Oral Advocates: For Petitioner (Wolford): Alan A. Beck, San Diego, California. For United States (as Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioner): Sarah M. Harris, Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice argues. For Respondent (Lopez): Neal K. Katyal, Washington, D.C. Question Presented: Whether the Ninth Circuit erred in holding that Hawaii may presumptively prohibit concealed carry per...

Oral Argument Re-Listen: Ellingburg v. United States | Case No. 24-482 | Oral Argument Date: 10/14/25 Overview: Ellingburg committed a crime in 1996 before Congress enacted a new law requiring convicted defendants to pay restitution to victims. Courts later sentenced Ellingburg under this new law and ordered him to pay $7,567.25 - money he never paid. Ellingburg challenged this restitution order a...

Oral Argument Re-Listen: Case v. Montana | Case No. 24-624 | Oral Argument Date: 10/15/25 Link to Docket: Here Case Preview: Here Question Presented: Whether law enforcement may enter a home without a search warrant based on less than probable cause that an emergency is occurring, or whether the emergency-aid exception requires probable cause. Oral Advocates: For Petitioner: Fred A. Rowley, Jr., L...

Oral Argument Re-Listen: Berk v. Choy | Case No. 24-440 | Oral Argument Date: 10/6/25 Link to Docket: Here Episode Preview: Here Background: Question Presented: Whether a state law providing that a complaint must be dismissed unless it is accompanied by an expert affidavit may be applied in federal court. Oral Advocates: For Petitioner: Andrew T. Tutt, Washington, D.C. For Respondent: Frederick R....

Coney Island Auto Parts, Inc. v. Burton | Case No. 24-808 | Oral Argument Date: 11/5/25 | Docket Link: Here Overview Today, the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Coney Island Auto Parts versus Burton, a time trap tangle examining when void verdicts gain validity. Coney Island's bank account gets frozen for nearly $100,000 based on a 2015 Tennessee judgment they claim they never knew about. Whe...

Oral Argument Re-Listen: Bost v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections | Case No. 24-568 | Oral Argument Date: 10/8/25 Link to Docket: Here Case Preview: https://scotus-oral-arguments.captivate.fm/episode/upcoming-oral-argument-bost-v-illinois-ballot-box-bout-when-can-candidates-challenge-election-rules/ Background: Federal law sets the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November as the federal Ele...

Overview: This episode offers six critical insights from last week's opinions. Six Pack Roadmap: 1. Deceptive Unanimity Statistics Court achieves 71% unanimity rate (versus 42% last year) by clearing uncontested low hanging fruit cases; rate will drop as complex constitutional questions arrive later this term. 2. Fractures Behind Unanimous Results: Two cases feature justices concurring only in jud...

Overview The High Court Report covers three major oral arguments from this past week, analyzing constitutional clashes over Second Amendment rights, pension plan calculations, and presidential removal powers. Each case presents fundamental questions about constitutional interpretation, federal authority, and the balance between individual rights and government power. Takeaways: Wolford v. Lopez •...

Ellingburg v. United States | Case No. 24-482 | Docket Link: Here Links: Opinion: Here . Oral Argument: Here Case Preview: Here Overview: Ellingburg committed a crime in 1996 before Congress enacted a new law requiring convicted defendants to pay restitution to victims. Courts later sentenced Ellingburg under this new law and ordered him to pay $7,567.25 - money he never paid. Ellingburg challenge...

Coney Island Auto Parts, Inc. v. Burton | Date Decided: 1/21/26 | Case No. 24-808 Docket Link: Here Overview This case involves a time trap tangle examining when void verdicts gain validity. Coney Island's bank account gets frozen for nearly $100,000 based on a 2015 Tennessee judgment they claim they never knew about. When Coney finally fights back seven years later, the Sixth Circuit dismisses th...

Berk v. Choy | Date Decided: 1/20/26 | Case No. 24-440 Docket Link: Here Episode Preview: Here Overview: Federal Rules of Civil Procedure conflict with state screening requirements raises fundamental questions about procedural uniformity in diversity jurisdiction and limits on state authority over federal court operations. Question Presented: Whether a state law providing that a complaint must be...

Trump v. Cook | Argument Date: 1/21/26 | Docket Link: Here Oral Advocates: For Petitioner (Trump): D. John Sauer, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. For Respondent (Cook): Paul D. Clement, Alexandria, Virginia. Question Presented: Whether Federal Reserve Board governors possess Fifth Amendment property rights in their offices and whether "for cause" removal authority permit...

Oral Advocates: For Petitioner (Wolford): Alan A. Beck, San Diego, California. For United States (as Amicus Curiae Supporting Petitioner): Sarah M. Harris, Principal Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice argues. For Respondent (Lopez): Neal K. Katyal, Washington, D.C. Question Presented: Whether the Ninth Circuit erred in holding that Hawaii may presumptively prohibit concealed carry per...

M & K Employee Solutions, LLC v. Trustees of The IAM Pension Fund | Argument Date: 1/20/26 | Docket Link: Here Oral Advocates: For Petitioner (M&K Employee Solutions): Michael E. Kenneally, Jr., Washington, D.C. For Respondent (IAM National Pension Fund): John E. Roberts, Providence, Rhode Island. For United States as (Amicus Curiae Supporting Respondent): Kevin J. Barber, Assistant to the...

OVERVIEW Don't miss this action packed episode. In it, we cover three things: News that the Supreme Court agreed to hear 4 new cases; News that the Supreme Court will issue opinions Stats, trends, and observations of last week's 4 opinions; and Final thoughts on this week's oral arguments NEW CERTIORARI GRANTS Cases Added: Four new grants bring total to approximately 57 unique cases for the term G...

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in four major cases during the week of January 12, 2026, covering federal contractor jurisdiction, transgender athletics rights, and state agency immunity. The Court issued its first four opinions of the term while demonstrating reluctance to expand constitutional protections in sensitive areas like transgender rights and police emergency powers. Justice conc...

Case v. Montana | Date Decided: 1/14/26 | Case No. 24-624 Question Presented: Whether law enforcement may enter a home without a search warrant based on less than probable cause that an emergency is occurring, or whether the emergency-aid exception requires probable cause. Background In this case, Case challenged the established emergency-aid exception by asking the Supreme Court to require probab...

Bowe v. United States | Date Decided: 1/9/26 | Case No. 24-5438 Background: Under 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(1), “[ a] claim presented in a second or successive habeas corpus application under section 2254 that was presented in a prior application shall be dismissed. ” (emphasis added). Question Presented: Whether 28 U.S.C. § 2244(b)(1) applies to a claim presented in a second or successive motion to vac...

Bost v. Illinois State Bd. of Elections | Date Decided: 1/14/26 | Case No. 24-568 Question Presented: Whether candidates running for federal office hold Article III standing to challenge state time, place, and manner regulations concerning their federal elections, specifically the state laws that allow ballots to be receivd and counted after election day. Link to Opinion: Here . Holding: As a cand...

Barrett v. United States | Date Decided: 1/14/26 | Case No. 24-5774 Question Presented: Whether the Double Jeopardy Clause permits two sentences for an act that violates 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) and§ 924(j), a question that divides seven circuits but about which the Solicitor General and Petitioner agree. Whether "Hobbs Act robbery qualifies as a crime of violence under §924(c) (3)(A), a question left o...

CSX Galette v. NJ Transit Corp. | Argument Date: 1/14/26 | Docket Link: Here Consolidated with CSX NJ Transit Corp. v. Colt | Argument Date: 1/14/26 | Docket Link: Here Oral Advocates: For Petitioner (New Jersey Transit Corp.): Michael Zuckerman, Deputy Solicitor General, Trenton, New Jersey. For Respondents (Galette and Colt): Michael Kimberly, Washington, D.C. Question Presented: Whether the New...