### Supreme Court Commences New Term With Major Decisions on Transgender Care and Ghost Guns

The Supreme Court is set to begin its new term on Monday, with significant rulings on the horizon involving state bans on "gender-affirming care" for transgender teens and federal restrictions on untraceable "ghost guns." The outcomes of these cases could have extensive implications for years to come.

Among the key issues, the court will consider whether states have the authority to ban puberty blockers and hormone therapies for transgender minors. This issue garnered major attention after Tennessee, along with 23 other conservative states, enacted a law last year that prohibits such medical treatments for minors. The Williams Institute at UCLA reported that over 100,000 youth aged 13 to 17 identify as transgender and could be affected by these state prohibitions.

Last June, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Biden administration's appeal against the Tennessee law, viewing it as a potential violation of constitutional rights. This landmark case, referred to as U.S. vs. Skrmetti, will be argued in December. Washington attorney Deepak Gupta labeled it "the blockbuster case of this term," highlighting its potential impact on parents' rights to direct the medical care of their children. The legal dispute revolves around whether the Constitution's antidiscrimination protections based on sex also cover gender identity.

Simultaneously, the court will tackle another contentious issue on Tuesday: the sale of "ghost guns." These easily assembled firearm kits pose a significant challenge to law enforcement efforts to trace weapons involved in crimes. According to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the proliferation of ghost guns has become an epidemic, with more than 19,000 seized at crime scenes in 2021 alone.

Federal authorities argue that the lack of serial numbers and background checks makes ghost guns particularly appealing to individuals prohibited from purchasing firearms legally. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar emphasized that these kits could "effectively nullify" decades-old gun laws. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives attempted to regulate gun parts in 2021 by classifying them as firearms. However, a federal judge in north Texas later ruled this regulation illegal, sparking the current Supreme Court review.

These pivotal cases, both prompted by appeals from Biden administration lawyers, call on the Supreme Court, dominated by conservative justices, to potentially overturn decisions made by lower, even more conservative, courts. The decisions from these cases will likely shape national policies on transgender rights and gun control for the foreseeable future.