About the 2025-2026 Supreme Court Term
The Supreme Court's 2025-2026 term began in October 2025 and runs through late June 2026. The Court accepted a docket that includes significant cases on executive power, administrative law, free speech in the digital age, and federalism. Legal analysts widely regard this term as one of the most consequential in recent memory for the scope and nature of the questions presented.
The Roberts Court — named for Chief Justice John Roberts, who has presided since 2005 — has shifted decisively in a more conservative direction since the appointments of Justices Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. The 2022 term's Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade marked the most dramatic single-term shift in the Court's jurisprudence in decades, and the current term continues to address foundational questions about the scope of federal and state power.
How the Supreme Court Works
The Supreme Court is the final interpreter of federal law and the Constitution. When it speaks, its rulings govern not just the parties to a case but every similar case in the country. Lower federal courts and state supreme courts are bound to apply Supreme Court precedent — a principle called stare decisis, meaning "to stand by things decided."
Cases reach the Court through a petition for a writ of certiorari. The losing party in a federal circuit court or state supreme court may petition the Supreme Court to review the decision. Four justices must agree to grant certiorari for the case to be heard — a process informally called "the rule of four." The Court accepts roughly 70 to 80 cases per term from thousands of petitions.
Oral arguments last 30 minutes per side on most cases. Justices question attorneys directly, often using hypothetical scenarios to probe the limits of each party's legal theory. The questioning often telegraphs where justices are leaning, though it can also mislead close observers — justices sometimes ask hard questions of both sides to test the full range of arguments.
Reading Supreme Court Opinions
A Supreme Court opinion has several parts. The majority opinion, written by one justice on behalf of those in the majority, establishes binding precedent. A concurring opinion agrees with the outcome but for different reasons; it does not create binding precedent unless a majority joins it. A dissenting opinion argues against the majority; it has no legal force but often previews arguments for future challenges.
The narrowest majority opinion controls the law — if there is no single rationale joined by five justices, the rule that commands the most agreement governs future cases. This is why even a 5-4 majority can produce opinions with limited precedential value if the five justices in the majority cannot agree on a single reasoning.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Supreme Court release its most important decisions?
The most significant and contentious decisions typically come at the end of the term in late June. Less controversial decisions are handed down throughout the October-to-June term.
How does the Supreme Court decide which cases to hear?
Four of the nine justices must agree to hear a case. The Court receives roughly 7,000 to 8,000 petitions each year and accepts fewer than 80. Cases involving significant constitutional questions or circuit court splits are most likely to be accepted.
What is a 6-3 Supreme Court decision?
Six justices voted in the majority and three dissented. With six justices appointed by Republican presidents and three by Democrats, a 6-3 ruling often reflects the conservative bloc prevailing — but many major decisions do not split on those lines.
Can Congress overturn a Supreme Court ruling?
If the Court interprets a federal statute, Congress can pass new legislation to override it. If the Court rules on constitutional grounds, only a constitutional amendment can reverse the decision.
How many justices are on the Supreme Court?
Nine — one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The number is set by statute, not the Constitution. Congress last changed it in 1869 when it set the total at nine.