In a significant move, the Supreme Court has added to its docket a series of cases set for oral arguments this November, which will tackle crucial issues ranging from religious discrimination to the limits of prison inmates’ rights. On the agenda is the case of St. Mary Catholic Parish v. Roy, spotlighting the First Amendment implications regarding a Catholic preschool’s exclusion from Colorado’s universal preschool program on religious grounds.
The preschool takes issue with the state’s refusal to grant an exemption from its anti-discrimination policies, which demand inclusion of all students, including LGBTQ students. This, they argue, constitutes religious discrimination. Despite the challenge, a federal appeals court previously upheld the state’s rules as neutral and generally applicable, referencing the decision in Employment Division v. Smith.
Another case of interest, Nielsen v. Watanabe, brings forward an examination of prisoners’ rights to seek damages for alleged mistreatment by prison officials. The lawsuit, filed by inmate Kekai Watanabe, draws upon the historical precedent of Bivens v. Six Unknown Federal Narcotics Agents, although federal authorities argue that this precedent should not be extended in this instance.
The November argument schedule, which includes seven hours of oral arguments over several days, encompasses other significant legal inquiries. Among these is Maxwell v. Dinis, examining habeas corpus relief under the First Step Act, and Guerrero v. Johnson, which questions the viability of successive petitions for post-conviction relief for death-row inmates arguing intellectual disability. These cases will be argued along with others that delve into complex issues such as eminent domain in Hoffmann v. WBI Energy Transmission, and the regulatory reach of the Department of Labor in Department of Labor v. Sun Valley Orchards, LLC.
These cases promise to impact fundamental aspects of federal law, with broad implications for religious institutions, federal authority, and the rights of individuals within the correctional system. For a detailed schedule and further reading, visit the full list of cases on the Supreme Court calendar.