What’s still ahead for Supreme Court?
WASHINGTON — After issuing a flurry of decisions last week, the Supreme Court will close out its current term with opinions this week in its remaining three cases.
The court meets Monday for a final time before the justices disperse on their summer breaks. The last three cases concern regulation of Texas abortion clinics, the public corruption conviction of former Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and a federal law that seeks to keep guns out of the hands of people convicted of domestic violence.
The justices handed down five rulings Thursday, including two cases that ended in 4-4 ties.
A look at the remaining cases: Abortion: Texas abortion clinics are challenging a state law and regulations that have cut the number of abortion providers in half, to roughly 20. Fewer than 10 would remain if the 2013 law were allowed to take full effect. One positive sign for the clinics is that only Justices Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan, who generally side with abortion rights advocates, have yet to write opinions from the session in late February and early March when the case was argued. Each justice typically writes at least one majority opinion from each argument session. Public corruption: The justices, based on oral arguments, seem likely to side with McDonnell, who is challenging his conviction for accepting gifts and loans from a businessman in exchange for promoting a dietary supplement. A ruling for McDonnell could make it harder to prosecute public officials. Guns: Two men from Maine are challenging their convictions for possessing guns under a federal law intended to keep guns out of the hands of people convicted of domestic violence.