The Supreme Court announced it will review one significant case focused on federal environmental laws for its 2026-27 term, while it refrained from addressing several Second Amendment challenges. The justices agreed to take up Department of the Air Force v. Prutehi Guahan, a case involving the U.S. Air Force’s disposal practices in Guam, which has brought to light the conflict between the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the National Environmental Policy Act. Prutehi Guahan, an environmental group, contends that the Air Force failed to produce an environmental impact statement before renewing its permit for ordnance disposal.
Meanwhile, the Court did not take action on pending cases related to the Second Amendment, including challenges to bans on assault rifles and large-capacity magazines. The court’s inaction could suggest it is waiting to resolve Wolford v. Lopez and United States v. Hemani, two prominent gun-rights cases currently under consideration.
Additionally, the Court did not move on a case questioning a Massachusetts school district’s handling of a child’s social transition, despite previous rulings on similar matters in California. The dispute centers on whether the district violated the parental rights by making decisions without informing the parents.
In another case, Justice Neil Gorsuch dissented regarding the Court’s choice not to hear the case of Jaron Burnett. Burnett was sentenced for a supervised release violation which he contends should have been tried by a jury, arguing that his total prison time exceeded the maximum authorized for his original conviction. Gorsuch emphasized the critical need for jury involvement in such cases due to the potential for extended imprisonment without a jury’s verdict.
The justices will reconvene for their next private conference on March 20, with resulting orders expected on March 23. More information on this development can be found on SCOTUSblog.