![](https://www.witf.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/supreme-court-building-1620x1080.jpg)
The U.S. Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Patrick Semansky / AP Photo
The U.S. Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Patrick Semansky / AP Photo
Patrick Semansky / AP Photo
The U.S. Supreme Court building on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(Washington) — The future of abortion rights is in the hands of a conservative Supreme Court that’s beginning a new term on Monday.
And there are major cases on gun rights and religion.
The court’s credibility with the public also could be on the line, especially if a divided court were to overrule the landmark Roe v. Wade decision from 1973 that established a woman’s right to an abortion nationwide.
The justices are returning to the courtroom after an 18-month absence caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
And the possible retirement of 83-year-old liberal Justice Stephen Breyer looms.
It’s also the first full term with the court in its current ideological alignment, with a six-justice conservative majority.
Get insights into WITF’s newsroom and an invitation to join in the pursuit of trustworthy journalism.
The days of journalism’s one-way street of simply producing stories for the public have long been over. Now, it’s time to find better ways to interact with you and ensure we meet your high standards of what a credible media organization should be.