US Court term will affect debt and ships

Significance

Among the cases the Court will consider in its first two months is one questioning the validity of Puerto Rico’s financial oversight board and another affecting waterborne international trade.

Impacts

• The Court’s term could be clouded by historical misconduct allegations facing Justice Brett Kavanaugh (which he denies).
• Kavanaugh will not resign from the Supreme Court.
• President Donald Trump may have the opportunity before 2025, if re-elected, to nominate a third Supreme Court justice.
• The Court will also decide cases relating to the administration’s immigration policies and transgender discrimination law.