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Supreme Court’s New Term Sparks Fears Over Democracy and Rights

October 6, 2025

The Supreme Court's 2025-26 term has begun with a docket full of consequential cases involving race, gender, campaign finance, and presidential authority that will shape the nation's direction on equality, freedom, and democracy. Legal experts at the D.C. Bar's annual Supreme Court Review and Preview discussed the increasingly polarized court, noting that Chief Justice Roberts joined the majority in 95% of decisions while Justices Thomas and Alito aligned 97% of the time during the previous term. Cases involving transgender rights, conversion therapy, voting rights, campaign finance regulations, and presidential emergency powers highlight this term's significant social and political implications.

Who is affected

  • Transgender students seeking to compete on teams matching their gender identity
  • Black voters in Louisiana regarding congressional district representation
  • Minors subjected to conversion therapy in Colorado
  • Political parties and candidates regarding campaign finance coordination
  • Property owners affected by government takings
  • Gun owners in Hawaii regarding carrying handguns on private property
  • The general public, as rulings will impact elections, education, civil rights, and government power

What action is being taken

  • Legal observers, scholars and advocates are warning about the court's potential impact
  • The Supreme Court is utilizing its emergency docket more frequently for politically charged cases
  • The D.C. Bar is hosting discussions and analyses of the upcoming term
  • The United States government is filing briefs opposing transgender students' challenges
  • The court is reviewing cases challenging various laws including those on conversion therapy, voting rights, and tariffs

Why it matters

  • The court's decisions will shape the country's direction on equality, freedom, and democracy
  • Public confidence in the judiciary has reached record lows
  • The court's embrace of originalism has already changed national law on abortion, guns, affirmative action, and federal regulation
  • The docket reflects broader cultural and partisan divides in American politics
  • These cases will determine the extent of civil rights protections, presidential authority, and democratic processes

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer

Supreme Court’s New Term Sparks Fears Over Democracy and Rights