First Amendment and Free Speech Decisions
In Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton, the Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for users accessing obscene online content for minors. The ruling found the law withstands intermediate scrutiny, only incidentally burdening adult speech.
The term also featured OK Charter School Board v. Drummond, where an equally divided Court affirmed excluding religious schools from state charter programs, citing Establishment Clause violations. This decision underscores tensions between free exercise and non-establishment principles.
Another key case, Trump v. CASA, Inc., limited universal injunctions, holding they exceed courts' equitable authority. This stemmed from challenges to an executive order on birthright citizenship.
Immigration and Executive Authority Cases
The emergency docket addressed presidential powers, including A.A.R.P v. Trump on Venezuelan migrants under the Alien Enemies Act. The Court remanded for evaluation of deportation procedures and notice requirements.
In Noem v. Doe, the Court stayed a lower court order blocking revocation of parole for over 532,000 non-citizens from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, requiring individualized assessments.
These rulings reinforce executive discretion in immigration while mandating due process, impacting ongoing enforcement amid 2025 policy shifts.
Civil Rights and Administrative Law Impacts
Civil rights cases included Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services, rejecting heightened evidentiary burdens for majority-group Title VII claims, aligning with statutory text. Barnes v. Felix broadened Fourth Amendment analysis beyond the 'moment-of-threat' in police use-of-force cases.
Administrative law saw challenges to agency actions, building on prior overturns like Chevron deference. Cases like Gutierrez v. Saenz affirmed standing for due process claims in DNA testing procedures.
Health-related rulings, such as Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, addressed Medicaid exclusions, while others like Advocate Christ Medical Center v. Kennedy tackled hospital funding calculations, affecting state budgets and services.