The United States Supreme Court, returning from its holiday break, will hear arguments in a number of cases next week. It will probably also start issuing opinions which, among other things, will give us our first look at the votes, and perhaps opinions, of Justice Sotomayor.
Because the law often seems arcane, and because the Court lacks the drama of the other governmental branches, we are often not aware of the issues with which the Supreme Court deals (excepting, of course, those cases that garner a lot of publicity). Thus, I think that many of us underestimate the important role played by the Court in our daily affairs. For example, the cases in which the Court will be hearing argument next week cover topics which both have relevance to our personal lives today and carry major implications for the future. The issues raised range from the rights of parents whose children are abducted to foreign countries, to the antitrust implications of professional football, to the right of a defendant to cross-examine prosecution witnesses.
These are the cases set next week for oral argument in the Supreme Court.
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