Supreme Court, new term near, to hear challenge to unions

Its conservative majority restored, the Supreme Court said Thursday it will return to an issue with the potential to financially cripple Democratic-leaning labor unions that represent government workers.

After the justices deadlocked 4-4 in a similar case last year, the high court will consider a free-speech challenge from workers who object to paying money to unions they don’t support.

The court, with conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch on board, could decide to overturn a 40-year-old Supreme Court ruling that allows public sector unions to collect fees from non-members to cover the costs of negotiating contracts.

The union fees case is among nine new cases the justices added to their docket for the term that begins on Monday.

Others include a defendant’s right to direct his own defense and police searches of vehicles.