Key cases before US Supreme Court (BBC)

[Jackeens]

Cases involving US gun laws, videos depicting dog-fighting and the presence of a cross in the Mojave desert are among those expected to dominate a fresh session of the US Supreme Court which opens on Monday. Justice Sonia Sotomayor is a new addition to the nine-member panel, replacing liberal Justice David Souter, who retired. The court is expected to hand down rulings on the cases it considers in the spring.

Among the cases to watch out for are:

CHALLENGE TO GUN CONTROL LAWS

The Supreme Court justices have agreed to consider a challenge by gun rights activists to the city of Chicago's ban on handgun ownership......

PRESENCE OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOL ON FEDERAL LAND

The Supreme Court will consider the case of an 8ft (2.5m) high Christian cross in the Mojave National Preserve, in California, which was put up as a monument to fallen World War I soldiers 70 years ago.......

FREE SPEECH CHALLENGE OVER DOG-FIGHTING VIDEO

The court will consider whether the conviction of Robert Stevens for distributing videos depicting dog-fighting under a law aimed at curtailing animal cruelty violated his constitutional right to freedom of speech.....

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

The nine-justice panel has already held a pre-term session to look at a case involving a 2008 documentary film, Hillary: the Movie, produced by the conservative group Citizens United.....

CHALLENGE TO LIFE SENTENCES FOR JUVENILES

The justices will hear arguments as to whether it is legal to sentence a minor to life imprisonment without parole for crimes.....

CHALLENGE TO LAW MAKING IT A CRIME TO AID TERROR GROUPS

The court will examine whether a federal law that bans the provision of "material support to terrorism" is unconstitutional....

DISPUTE OVER HUMAN RIGHTS CASE AGAINST EX-SOMALIAN PM

The Supreme Court will consider whether a human rights case against former Somali Prime Minister Mohamed Ali Samantar should be allowed to proceed......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8285731.stm

[Statistical]

1. McDonald v. Chicago will be interesting.

I think SCOTUS will opt to hear it early in the session.