Supreme Court to Decide Birthright Citizenship, Maps, Porn Law/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Supreme Court convenes Friday to deliver decisions in six remaining cases, including President Trump’s effort to limit birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants. Other pivotal rulings involve LGBTQ books in schools, Louisiana redistricting, and Texas’ online porn restrictions. The outcomes could reshape immigration, civil rights, and free speech laws.
Supreme Court Term Finale + Quick Looks
- Birthright citizenship at stake: Trump challenges citizenship for U.S.-born children of undocumented parents.
- Nationwide injunctions questioned: Court weighs limits on federal judges’ nationwide orders.
- Religion vs. LGBTQ rights: Parents seek opt-out from diverse storybooks in Maryland schools.
- Louisiana redistricting in focus: Justices review Black-majority congressional district maps.
- Free speech clash: Texas porn ID law pits child protection against adult privacy rights.
Supreme Court to Decide Birthright Citizenship, Maps, Porn Law
Deep Look
HIGH COURT’S FINAL SESSION TACKLES WEIGHTY ISSUES
The Supreme Court returns to the bench Friday to issue its final opinions before summer recess, resolving six major cases that touch on immigration, voting rights, religious liberty, and free speech. Justices will convene at 10 a.m., concluding a term marked by high-profile and politically charged disputes.
BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP CHALLENGE HEADLINES DOCKET
Among the most consequential decisions is President Donald Trump’s push to enforce his executive order denying birthright citizenship to children born in the U.S. to parents who entered the country illegally.
Lower federal courts have uniformly blocked the policy nationwide, prompting the Trump administration to seek emergency intervention from the Supreme Court.
At the heart of the case is whether federal judges have the authority to issue nationwide injunctions, a legal tool that has frequently hampered both Republican and Democratic administrations over the past decade.
Such sweeping court orders have become a significant check on presidential actions — but also a source of growing frustration for the Trump White House. A ruling to limit injunctions could significantly alter how future challenges to federal policies unfold.
RELIGIOUS RIGHTS CLASHES WITH LGBTQ INCLUSIVITY IN SCHOOLS
The justices are also poised to decide a religious liberty case involving LGBTQ-themed storybooks in Maryland public schools.
Parents in Montgomery County, a suburban Washington district, want the right to pull their children from lessons that include these books, which the school system added to promote diversity and inclusion.
Initially, the district allowed parents to opt their children out of such lessons. However, officials reversed that policy, citing disruptions and inconsistencies in classroom instruction. Currently, sex education is the only subject with an opt-out option in county schools.
During arguments in April, several justices seemed sympathetic to the parents’ religious freedom claims.
LOUISIANA REDISTRICTING RETURNS TO COURT
Another pivotal case is the ongoing battle over Louisiana’s congressional districts, marking its second appearance before the Supreme Court.
At issue is a new congressional map that created a second majority-Black district among Louisiana’s six House seats, resulting in the election of a Black Democrat in 2024.
Lower courts have struck down previous maps twice since 2022, and the justices are now considering whether to send Louisiana lawmakers back to redraw boundaries yet again.
The case sits at the intersection of race, politics, and redistricting before a conservative-leaning court historically skeptical of race-based considerations in public policy. During arguments in March, some conservative justices hinted they might invalidate the map, potentially raising the bar for future lawsuits under the Voting Rights Act.
FREE SPEECH VERSUS CHILD SAFETY ONLINE
Free speech rights will also be tested as the justices weigh the constitutionality of a Texas law requiring age verification for accessing online pornography.
Texas is among more than a dozen states that have enacted such laws, arguing they’re vital to protect children amid the ease of online access to explicit content.
However, the Free Speech Coalition, representing the adult-entertainment industry, argues the law is overly broad and infringes on the rights of consenting adults. They contend that requiring personal identification online poses privacy risks, including potential hacking or government surveillance.
The case could determine how far states can go in regulating online content without violating First Amendment protections.
DECISIONS TO SHAPE POLICY AND POLITICS
As the justices prepare to release their opinions, the stakes run high. The rulings will not only resolve major legal questions but could also ripple through politics, civil liberties, and daily life in the United States.
The Supreme Court’s next term is scheduled to begin October 6.
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