### Supreme Court Faces Unprecedented Emergency Case Load During June Rulings

WASHINGTON - June traditionally signifies the start of a monthlong ruling spree at the Supreme Court, where justices issue decisions on significant, often contentious cases. However, this year, the court's usual schedule has been upended by the Trump administration's numerous emergency legal challenges.

President Donald Trump’s second term has inundated the court with urgent cases that require immediate attention, surpassing the time they spend on regular cases which typically receive months of thorough examination. According to Leah Litman, a University of Michigan Law School professor and author of "Lawless," the Trump administration’s activities have drastically shifted the court's focus, impacting how the public perceives its actions. These emergency cases don't follow the regular rhythm, often being issued at unpredictable times, unlike the pre-scheduled rulings at 10 a.m.

Since January, the court has been notably busy with 11 emergency cases linked to Trump, decided in the less transparent "shadow docket," where full oral arguments are rare, and decisions are brief. Such cases include attempts to leverage a wartime law for deporting Venezuelans and an order for Trump to facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador. Recently, the court permitted the Trump administration to revoke legal protections for over 500,000 immigrants.

Currently, the Supreme Court has 33 pending cases from its 62-case merits docket for the term. Noteworthy cases still awaiting a decision include a Tennessee law banning gender transition care for minors and a conservative challenge to LGBTQ-themed books in Maryland's schools.

The "shadow docket" has increasingly blurred the lines with the merits docket, as major cases like the one involving a law aimed at banning TikTok were expedited, reaching the Supreme Court and receiving a decision within weeks. The court has also opted to hold oral arguments in some emergency cases, such as those contesting nationwide injunctions on Trump's birthright citizenship plans.

Experts have observed that the Supreme Court may have intentionally kept a lighter schedule this term, preparing for the possibility of more election-related and Trump-administration cases. Lawyer John Elwood noted the court's apparent readiness to accommodate emergency cases involving Trump's initiatives, reflecting a strategic shift in its operational focus.