CENSUS CEASED

Supreme Court to hear argument excluding noncitizens.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court agreed Friday to take up President Donald Trump’s policy, blocked by a lower court, to exclude people living in the U. S. illegally from the census count that will be used to allocate seats in the House of Representatives.

Never in U. S. history have immigrants been excluded from the population count that determines how House seats, and by extension Electoral College votes, are divided among the states, a three- judge federal court said in September when it held Mr. Trump’s policy illegal.

The justices put the case on a fast track, setting arguments for Nov. 30. A decision is expected by the end of the year or early in January, when Mr. Trump has to report census numbers to the House.

Mr. Trump’s high court nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, could take part in the case if, as seems likely, she is confirmed by then.

Last year, the court by a 5- 4 vote barred Mr. Trump from adding a census question asking people about their citizenship. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died last month, was part of that slim majority. Judge Barrett would take Justice Ginsburg’s seat.

“The Supreme Court rejected [ Mr. Trump’s] attempt last year and should do so again,” said American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Dale Ho.