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Supreme Court Case Round Up, 2025-2026

Introduction 

The Supreme Court plays a significant role in our government, hearing cases and establishing precedents on how to interpret the law. Each year, citizens bring cases before the Court on important constitutional questions. The Justices are sometimes unanimous in their decisions, but often, they will disagree. 

Understanding these decisions and how and why they are decided helps hold the court accountable and shows Americans how even the people who spend the most time thinking about the law can still disagree about what it means and how to proceed. 

Take a look at a few of the cases heard this term and consider how Founding principles, civic virtues, and legal precedents all play a role in the Supreme Court’s decisions. Which cases do you think will have the largest impact politically? Which will have the largest impact on your state or community? 

Then, review cases that are decided and pending to explore some of the principles that the Court uses to make its rulings. How might the precedents set by these decisions impact the future of the United States?   

Directions 

Select one case from the “decided cases” list and one case from the “pending cases” list. The links below can serve as a good starting point for research. Then answer the following questions. 

Decided Cases 

Pending Cases 

Decided Cases Questions

  • In your own words, was the question argued in the case? 
  • What constitutional question or Founding principle is being engaged? Use this guide to some of the legal and philosophical ideas that help guide jurists.
  • What was the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the case? 
  • Consider the written opinions and dissents: 
    • Which Supreme Court justice wrote the majority or unanimous opinion?  
    • Which justice wrote the dissenting opinion, if any?  
    • Which justice wrote the concurring opinion, if any? 
    • What seems to be the biggest difference between the majority opinion and the dissent?  
    • Do you agree with the court’s decision? Explain your answer. 
    • Do you believe the Supreme Court has fulfilled its constitutional duty in making this decision? Why or why not? 

Pending Cases Questions

  • In your own words, what is the case trying to determine? 
  • Which Founding Principles does the case relate to? Use this guide to some of the legal and philosophical ideas that help guide jurists.
  • Based on the definitions of the Founding Principles related to this case, what are some arguments that you might see presented? 
  • Which of those arguments do you find most compelling? Why?