The Supreme Court is set to release its final three decisions of the current term early next week.
Though its key rulings on same-sex marriage and Obamacare subsidies have already been released, justices still have to announce decisions on issues relating to environmental law, the drawing of congressional maps, and the use of lethal injection.
Below is a list of the three remaining cases, with some background, and the legal questions raised (as described by the Oyez Project at the IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where you can read more by clicking on the links of the case names). Justices will be releasing opinions next on Monday, June 29. The cases are listed in order that they were argued, though that doesn’t dictate the order at which they’ll be decided.
DRAWING CONGRESSIONAL MAPS
Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (3/2/15) – The Arizona legislature argues that a commission adopted to draw up congressional districts strips away power that should be the purview of the legislature. Oyez Project: “Did Proposition 106 violate the Elections Clause of the federal Constitution by removing the congressional districting power from the state legislature?”
ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
Michigan v. EPA and related cases (Argued 3/25/15) – This case looks at an EPA emissions regulation. From Oyez: “Did the Environmental Protection Agency unreasonably refuse to consider costs in determining whether it was appropriate to regulate electric utility steam generating units?”
LETHAL INJECTIONS
Glossip v. Gross (Argued 4/29/15) – This case looks at the use of lethal injections in implementing the death penalty. “Does Oklahoma’s use of midazolam as the initial drug in the execution protocol, the same initial drug used in Charles Lockett’s execution, violate the Eighth Amendment’s prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment?”
