Four cases to watch as Supreme Court gears up for December session

quote:

---

Trump’s FTC firing
In his second White House term, Trump has sought to eviscerate the traditional independence enjoyed by certain agencies across the federal government by firing their leaders without cause.

Those efforts will come to a head on Dec. 8, when the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the president’s bid to fire a member of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

---

quote:

---

Campaign finance
The following day, a major campaign finance battle heads to the Supreme Court.

The justices will consider striking down federal restrictions on political parties’ spending in coordination with their candidates, known as “coordinated party expenditure limits.” Republicans’ Senate and House campaign arms, then-Sen. JD Vance and former Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio) challenge the limits under the First Amendment’s free speech protections. They appealed to the justices after losing in lower courts.

---

quote:

---

First Choice Women’s Resource Centers, which runs five faith-based pregnancy centers in the state, is attempting to quash a subpoena from New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D) under the First Amendment.

The centers do not provide abortions. Its health services are privately funded and provided free to patients.

Platkin’s subpoena demanded First Choice turn over donors’ names, their contact information and materials used to solicit contributions. Platkin’s office has said it’s part of an investigation into whether First Choice engaged in unlawful, “deceptive” practices.

---

quote:

---

Street preacher’s free speech fight
The campaign finance and pregnancy center cases aren’t the only free speech battles at the Supreme Court this session.

A street preacher in Mississippi will take his effort to raise First Amendment claims to the justices at arguments Wednesday.

Gabriel Olivier, an evangelical Christian, uses loudspeakers and signs to protest the message “that everyone sins.” He called women “Jezebels” and “whores” and men “sissies” as they walked by, court records show.

Brandon, Miss., officials arrested him under a city ordinance that criminalizes certain demonstrations near a public amphitheater outside of a designated protest area. Olivier was found guilty, and he paid a $304 fine.

While on probation, Olivier brought a federal civil rights lawsuit, saying the ordinance violates his First Amendment free speech rights.

---