Supreme Court 2024-2025 Term Preview: 8 Cases That Could Reshape America

As the leaves begin to turn and autumn settles in, the United States Supreme Court prepares to don its robes for another term of landmark decisions. Starting tomorrow, October 7, 2024, the highest court in the land will tackle a docket packed with cases that could dramatically alter the American legal landscape. From ghost guns to corporate cover-ups, here are eight cases that demand your attention and the dates they will be argued:

1. The Specter of Ghost Guns (Garland v. VanDerStok, Oct 8)

Imagine a world where anyone can make an untraceable firearm in their garage made from a ready-to assemble kit. That is the reality the current administration is trying to regulate, and the Supreme Court will decide if they have the power to do so. This case could redefine the Second Amendment for the digital age.

2. A Death Row Inmate's Last Stand (Glossip v. Oklahoma, Oct 9)

Richard Glossip who has been on death row for 25 years in part based on hidden evidence that a key witness was under psychiatric care. But he and Oklahoma's attorney general agree--his conviction was unjust. This is not just about one man's fate; it is a test of how far prosecutors can go before crossing the line.

3. When Federal Law and State Weed Collide (Medical Marijuana, Inc. v. Horn, Oct 15)

A truck driver loses his job for using legal medical marijuana. Now he is using organized crime laws to sue the cannabis companies. It is a legal Hail Mary that could have massive implications for the growing cannabis industry and workers' rights.

4. Fighting for Those Who Fought for Us (Bufkin v. McDonough, Oct 16)

Veterans have long been promised the "benefit of the doubt" when seeking benefits. But how much doubt is enough? This case could change how we repay the debt we owe to those who served.

5. San Francisco vs. The EPA: A Watery Dispute (City and County of San Francisco v. EPA, Oct 16)

The city by the Bay is taking on the federal government over what can be dumped into the Pacific Ocean. It is a classic clash of local versus federal power that could ripple through environmental law nationwide.

6. The $1.3 Billion School Internet Scandal (Wisconsin Bell v. United States ex rel. Heath, Nov 4)

A whistleblower claims telecom giants defrauded a program meant to bring internet to schools and libraries. The Court's decision could change how we hold companies accountable for bilking taxpayers.

7. Facebook's Secrets and Lies? (Facebook v. Amalgamated Bank, Nov 6)

The social media giant is accused of hiding the truth about data breaches from investors. This case asks: when does a "potential risk" become a lie of omission? The answer could reshape how corporations communicate with shareholders.

8. NVIDIA and the Smoking Gun Email (NVIDIA Corp v. E. Ohman J:or Fonder AB, Nov 13)

How much evidence do you need to accuse a company of fraud? This case, centered on the chip-making powerhouse NVIDIA, could make it easier (or much harder) to hold corporations accountable for misleading investors.

As the justices prepare to hear these cases, one thing is certain: the decisions made in the hallowed chambers of the Supreme Court will echo far beyond its marble columns, touching the lives of Americans for generations to come.

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