Ghost guns and transgender care: Major cases before US Supreme Court

The US Supreme Court is beginning a new term, and it is expected to address several significant cases that could have a lasting impact on American society. The court's nine justices are returning after a busy previous term, which included important rulings on issues such as abortion rights and former President Donald Trump's legal protections. As the new term unfolds, the justices will tackle various legal disputes, including those related to the upcoming presidential elections, which are anticipated to be highly competitive. With a conservative majority of six justices, public confidence in the court has waned, with approval ratings dropping to around 43%, a near-record low. One of the most notable cases this term is US v Skrmetti, which involves a challenge to a Tennessee law that bans gender-affirming care for minors. The Biden administration is contesting this law, which took effect in July 2023, and prohibits certain medical treatments for young people experiencing gender dysphoria. This includes the use of puberty blockers and hormones if the treatment is intended to help a minor live as a gender different from their assigned sex at birth. A coalition of transgender youth, their families, and healthcare providers have joined the Biden administration in opposing the law, arguing that it violates the 14th Amendment's guarantee of equal protection under the law. The Supreme Court's decision on this matter could set a precedent for similar laws in over 20 states that have enacted restrictions on transgender care. Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have voiced their opposition to these laws, emphasizing the importance of access to appropriate medical care for transgender youth. Another significant case on the Supreme Court's agenda is related to ghost guns, which are firearms that can be assembled at home from kits and lack serial numbers, making them difficult to trace. The case, Garland v VanDerStok, will determine whether the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has the authority to regulate these weapons in the same manner as commercial gun sales, which includes requirements for serial numbers and federal background checks. The Biden administration initially introduced regulations on ghost guns in 2022, but a lower court blocked these rules, siding with gun owners and manufacturers who argued that the ATF had exceeded its authority. The Justice Department has since appealed the case to the Supreme Court, and the outcome could have significant implications for gun control measures in the United States. The White House has expressed concerns about the rising threat posed by unregistered firearms, citing a tenfold increase in the number of suspected ghost guns found during criminal investigations from five years ago. Additionally, the Supreme Court will hear a case that seeks to clarify the standards for determining whether police officers used reasonable force in their actions. A recent ruling from the Fifth Circuit involved a Texas police officer who shot and killed a driver during a traffic stop. The officer claimed he feared for his life when he shot Ashtian Barnes, who had initially stopped but then attempted to flee. Barnes's mother has filed a lawsuit, arguing that the officer's use of deadly force was unreasonable and violated her son's Fourth Amendment rights. The judges in the lower court found that the officer acted reasonably under the circumstances, but one judge expressed frustration with this standard and called for the Supreme Court to review the case. If the Supreme Court agrees to hear it, they will need to consider the broader context of the situation and whether the officer's actions were justified. Lastly, the Supreme Court will also examine a challenge to a Texas law that requires adult websites to verify the ages of their users. This law mandates that websites with a significant amount of content deemed harmful to minors must implement age verification measures to ensure that all visitors are at least 18 years old. The law also requires these sites to display health warnings about the potential dangers of pornography. The adult entertainment industry has contested this law, arguing that it infringes upon the First Amendment's protections of free speech. A federal district court initially ruled in favor of the industry, but this decision was later overturned by a Fifth Circuit panel. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for First Amendment rights, particularly in relation to the balance between protecting minors and safeguarding free speech.