Supreme Court may rule on Trump’s immunity, abortion access and climate protections this week

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story first ran on June 2, 2024.

The Supreme Court is turning toward the final, frenzied days of its term, readying potential blockbuster decisions on abortion, guns and former President Donald Trump’s claims of absolute immunity.

The court will hand down opinions on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week as the justices aim to finish their work by the last day in June.

The decisions will land rapidly at a tense time for the 6-3 conservative-liberal court – just before a historic presidential election that has been heavily influenced by its decision two years ago to overturn Roe v. Wade. Public opinion of the court remains at record lows. Conservative Justice Samuel Alito, meanwhile, has faced sharp blowback over two controversial flags raised at his homes in Virginia and New Jersey.

Here are some of the remaining cases to be decided this week.

Trump claims ‘absolute’ immunity

Trump’s appeal for immunity from special counsel Jack Smith’s election subversion charges landed at the Supreme Court late in the term and instantly overshadowed most of the docket.

Related article The Supreme Court’s approach on ‘history and tradition’ is irking Amy Coney Barrett

Trump argued that without immunity, presidents would be hamstrung in office, always fearful of being second guessed by a zealous prosecutor after leaving the White House. That position appeared to have some purchase on the conservative Supreme Court during oral arguments in April, though it didn’t appear Trump would be able to get Smith’s case tossed entirely.

The immunity case, appears likely to come down to whether Trump’s post-election actions were “official” – that is, steps he was taking as