On Monday, the Supreme Court issued several procedural decisions and began its new term. The Court declined to hear an appeal from Keith Raniere, the leader of the NXIVM organization, who sought to challenge his conviction on racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. This decision maintains the federal appeals court ruling that upheld his conviction and multi-decade prison sentence.

In a separate matter, the Court refused to intervene in a First Amendment dispute involving a Michigan public school district. Two students had challenged the district’s policy banning clothing featuring the phrase 'Let’s Go Brandon,' a slogan used to criticize former President Biden. By declining the case, the Court leaves the lower court’s handling of the school’s dress code policy in place.

Finally, the Court commenced its new nine-month term by hearing oral arguments in a case involving major oil companies. In the case of Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, energy companies are seeking to move climate change-related lawsuits from state courts to federal courts. The oil companies argue that federal law should govern these claims, while local officials in Boulder, Colorado, contend that state courts are the appropriate venue to hold the companies accountable for costs associated with climate change impacts.