The U.S. Supreme Court is preparing for a new term beginning in October that will address a range of significant issues involving gun rights, voting restrictions, immigrant detention policies, and corporate litigation. The court, with its current 6-3 conservative majority, continues to navigate a legal landscape shaped by recent rulings that have expanded the interpretation of the Second Amendment and revisited Trump-era policies.

Among the most closely watched cases are two appeals challenging bans on assault-style rifles in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois. These cases present the justices with an opportunity to reconsider state-level prohibitions on semi-automatic firearms such as the AR-15. Gun rights advocates argue that such weapons fall under constitutional protections because they are in “common use” for self-defense, while state officials classify them as military-style firearms favored by criminals and terrorists. The court previously emphasized in a 2022 decision that firearm regulations must align with the nation’s historical tradition to comply with the Second Amendment, a standard that has led several federal appellate courts to uphold assault weapons bans. Legal experts note that the justices will need to determine not only if the bans meet this historical criterion but also whether these rifles qualify as “arms” covered by the Second Amendment.

The high court will also hear a contentious voting rights case originating in Arizona, where a Republican-backed law aimed at tightening voter registration procedures has been blocked by lower courts. The legislation would require stricter proof of citizenship and allow for the removal of voters suspected of non-citizenship from the rolls. The law faces opposition from voting rights groups, including Mi Familia Vota, which argue the measures disproportionately disenfranchise Latino and other minority voters. Supporters assert that the changes are necessary for election security, framing the legal battle as a balance between safeguarding the vote and preventing fraud.

In immigration law, the justices will review a Trump administration policy that permits prolonged detention without bond hearings for certain convicted immigrants facing deportation. A lower court ruled that extended detention without timely hearings violates constitutional due process rights. The Supreme Court’s decision will clarify the legal standards governing the detention of non-citizens with pending removal proceedings, adding to the court’s recent history of cases addressing immigration enforcement under former President Donald Trump.

Religious liberty and LGBT rights will also be focal points in the upcoming term. The court is set to examine a Colorado case involving the Archdiocese of Denver and other Catholic organizations seeking exemption from a preschool funding program’s non-discrimination rules. After the court struck down a state ban on conversion therapy for minors earlier this year on free speech grounds, this new case highlights ongoing tensions between anti-discrimination protections for LGBT individuals and claims of religious freedom.

Corporate interests are similarly prominent, with cases involving climate-related lawsuits from Boulder, Colorado, targeting ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy, an antitrust dispute between Epic Games and Apple, and a trademark matter related to PepsiCo also slated for argument.

The Supreme Court’s agenda for the term reflects a continued shift toward conservative jurisprudence across a spectrum of issues, with decisions that will have wide-ranging implications for constitutional rights, election laws, immigration policy, and regulatory authority.