A new Supreme Court term begins with cases on climate change and gun rights, tell me about this news today

The U.S. Supreme Court opens its new term on the traditional “first Monday in October” with a docket featuring high-stakes disputes over climate change liability and Second Amendment protections.

Climate Change and Oil Industry Liability The court kicks off oral arguments with Suncor Energy (U.S.A.) Inc. v. Commissioners of Boulder County.

The National Constitution Center

• The Core Issue: Local governments in Colorado filed lawsuits seeking financial compensation from fossil fuel corporationssuch as Suncor and ExxonMobilfor the local infrastructure costs and damages associated with climate change.

• The Legal Question: The energy companies are appealing to block these lawsuits, arguing that climate change is a global, interstate issue governed exclusively by federal law rather than varied state-level tort actions.

  Daily Journal

• The Impact: A ruling will set the precedent for dozens of similar pending municipal and state lawsuits nationwide trying to hold the energy industry accountable for global warming costs.

  Daily Journal

Second Amendment and Assault Weapons Bans The term also takes on major challenges to state-level restrictions on semiautomatic firearms.

Daily Journal

• The Core Issue: Several states and local jurisdictions (including bans originating in places like Connecticut and Illinois) have enacted restrictions on semiautomatic rifles such as AR-15s, citing their common use in mass shootings and arguing the bans curb gun violence.

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• The Legal Question: Gun rights advocates challenge these measures under the Second Amendment, contending that AR-15-style firearms are in common use for lawful purposes (such as self-defense) and therefore cannot be banned under recent Supreme Court precedent.

• The Impact: The outcome could redefine the limits of state legislative power to regulate or prohibit specific categories of firearms across the country.

Beyond climate and guns, the new term’s calendar also features significant disputes addressing religious exemptions from anti-discrimination policies, immigration enforcement authority, and executive powers.

KSJD