The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday added three new cases to its oral argument docket and scheduled arguments regarding federal sentencing guidelines and digital privacy. The justices met in a private conference on Friday to vote on petitions for review, with orders from that meeting issued Tuesday morning.
The court's current activities follow several weeks of filings, including a September 28 request from the Trump administration regarding transgender inmate policies. Additionally, the court is considering requests to block a lower court ruling that would require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to rule on political advertising rates.
On Tuesday, the court heard oral argument in Beaird v. United States, a case concerning the level of deference judges should give to the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s interpretations of federal guidelines. On Wednesday, the justices are scheduled to hear Salazar v. Paramount Global, which examines the application of the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act to modern internet services.
The court’s examination of the 1988 Video Privacy Protection Act will clarify legal rights for internet users who consume video content online. Depending on the outcome in Salazar v. Paramount Global, consumers may see changes in how their viewing data is protected or shared by digital platforms. Additionally, the Beaird case could alter how federal judges calculate prison terms for defendants by changing how sentencing guidelines are interpreted by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
The FCC case centers on whether political parties and joint fundraising committees receive favorable advertising rates. The court's ruling will determine if the FCC must expedite its decision-making process for challenges to these rates. A final decision on the transgender inmate policy could be issued at any time, while the newly added cases involving material support and data disputes will be argued later in the term. Dates for these future arguments have not yet been announced.