• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
The U.S. Supreme Court is pictured in Washington June 24, 2024. (OSV News photo/Nathan Howard, Reuters)

A look ahead at the Supreme Court’s fall term

September 23, 2024
By Russell Shaw
OSV News
Filed Under: Commentary, Respect Life, Supreme Court

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

When the Supreme Court opens for business again Oct. 7, it will have before it for argument and eventual decision in the term ahead at least three cases directly involving the protection of children and young people. The issues include internet pornography, gender-affirming treatment of transgender youths, and flavored e-cigarettes.

The court will be returning under the threat of a plan floated by President Biden limiting the terms of justices to 18 years. But the proposal has little chance of enactment now or in the foreseeable future.

Article III of the Constitution says Supreme Court justices and judges of other federal courts “shall hold their offices during good behavior.” That is, they have life tenure allowing them to serve until they die, resign, or are impeached. Changing that would require amending the Constitution, something highly improbable in today’s heated political environment.

The idea does serve a political purpose, however, providing a talking point in the runup to the November election. As such, it illustrates liberal determination to punish the court for rulings liberals don’t like. The special target is of course the decision two years ago in Dobbs v. Women’s Health Organization overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that created a constitutionally protected right to abortion.

So far, however, abortion is not on the court’s agenda during the 2024 term. But the protection of children certainly is.

In a case from Texas, the Supreme Court is being asked to consider a state law, adopted in 2023, that bars producers of pornographic material from sending it to anyone in the state under the age of 18. Potential recipients must provide documentation showing them to be older than that. Violators are subject to a fine of $10,000 a day.

The law’s challengers include a trade association for pornography producers who contend that the law places unacceptable burdens on the First Amendment free speech right of adults who choose to receive pornography. A three-judge panel of the U.S 5th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court in upholding the law. The case is Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton.

The case involving transgender rights comes from Tennessee and focuses on a state law enacted in 2023 that bars treatments for the condition known as dysphoria, including puberty blockers and surgery intended to bring about gender transition. More than 20 other states have similar laws. The suit was filed by three transgender teenagers, their parents, and a physician who treats such patients.

The Biden-Harris administration has joined the case, arguing that the law violates 14th Amendment equal protection. A divided panel of the 6th Circuit U.S.Court of Appeals reversed a trial judge’s ruling last fall and upheld the law. The case is United States v. Skrmetti.

The case involving flavored e-cigarettes concerns a U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy in denying producers’ applications to market them. The e-cigarettes have fruit or candy flavors and work when a liquid containing nicotine is heated by the e-cigarette, to form an inhalable aerosol. The product is said to be highly popular among teenagers, with nearly 20% of U.S. high school students and 5% of middle schoolers said to be users according to the most recent numbers.

Manufacturers contend that the e-cigarettes help keep children from smoking real cigarettes. But the FDA says they present a “serious, well-documented risk” of causing children to become addicted to nicotine and turn to real cigarettes. Lower courts have sided variously with the FDA and the e-cigarette makers. The case is FDA v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC.

Read More Supreme Court

Supreme Court rules states can deny Medicaid funds to Planned Parenthood

Supreme Court upholds Tennessee’s gender transition ban for minors

Supreme Court takes up appeal from N.J. faith-based pregnancy centers

‘Public’ does not equal ‘state’ or ‘government’

High court sends Catholic groups’ challenge to N.Y. abortion-coverage mandate back to state courts

Supreme Court rules in favor of Wisconsin Catholic agency over religious exemption

Copyright © 2024 OSV News

Print Print

Share
Share on Facebook
Share
Share this
Pin
Pin this
Share
Share on LinkedIn

Primary Sidebar

Russell Shaw

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Expert discusses serious harms of smartphones for children and how to limit their use

Cupcakes with 2025 graduation toothpicks in them and a bowl of cookies

Our 31-hour Road Trip

St. Paul and discovering that sin is ‘missing the mark’

Six lit candles on a chocolate birthday cake

Making a birthday wish come true

Pilgrims of Hope: Walking the Way of St. Francis in the Year of Jubilee

| Recent Local News |

Archbishop Lori announces clergy appointments, including pastor and associate pastors

DUAL ENROLLMENT

Double the learning: Dual enrollment provides college credit to high school students

St. Mary’s purchases former Annapolis Area Christian School

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

St. Clement Mary Hofbauer adapts to times, cultures as it celebrates 100th anniversary

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Expert discusses serious harms of smartphones for children and how to limit their use
  • Movie Review: Superman
  • Judge blocks Trump birthright citizenship order as part of class action lawsuit
  • Ukraine religious leaders issue ‘desperate cry’ to world to end Russia’s war
  • Pope Leo wears Chicago-made vestments to July 9 ‘care of creation’ Mass
  • Movie Review: Sorry, Baby
  • ICE deports Iowa parishioner to Guatemala homeland as supporters pray for his release
  • Come away and rest awhile
  • French woman hopes sharing mystical encounter with Minnesota Benedictine helps sainthood cause

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

en Englishes Spanish
en en