Four decisions dropping before July that could reshape immigration, executive power, voting and civil rights.

Citizenship. Executive power. Your ballot. School sports. The Supreme Court is about to rule on all of it. The Court is in its final weeks, with decisions expected before July. Here is what is at stake in four of the biggest cases still pending.

Trump v. Barbara – Birthright Citizenship

  • The case: A challenge to President Trump’s Day 1 executive order ending automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are here illegally or on temporary visas. The Court is deciding whether the order violates the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause.
  • Background: Federal courts uniformly blocked the order. The Supreme Court took the case on an expedited basis; oral arguments were held April 1, 2026 — the first time a sitting president attended a Supreme Court argument.
  • What’s at stake: A ruling against the administration preserves 125+ years of precedent. A ruling for the administration could strip citizenship from tens of thousands of people born in the U.S. each year. Most justices appeared skeptical of the government’s position at argument.

Trump v. Slaughter & Trump v. Cook – Presidential Power Over Independent Agencies

  • The cases: Two related cases testing whether the president can fire members of independent federal agencies without cause. Slaughter asks whether to overturn a 90-year-old precedent protecting agencies like the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from arbitrary removal. Cook asks whether the Federal Reserve has stronger protections given its unique structure.
  • Background: Trump fired FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter in 2025, citing policy priorities rather than misconduct. He separately attempted to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over disputed mortgage paperwork. The Court allowed Slaughter’s removal to proceed; Cook remains on the job.
  • What’s at stake: A ruling for the administration in Slaughter would give the president direct control over the FTC, National Labor Relations Board, Securities and Exchange Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and other independent agencies. A ruling in Cook extending that power to the Fed has alarmed economists given its role in setting interest rates. Conservative justices appeared likely to side with the administration in Slaughter, with a possible carve-out for the Fed.

Watson v. Republican National Committee – Mail-In Ballot Deadlines

  • The case: A challenge to Mississippi’s law counting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day if received within five business days after. The Court is deciding whether federal election statutes require ballots to be received — not just cast — by Election Day.
  • Background: The Republican National Committee argued Mississippi’s grace period violates federal law; the Fifth Circuit agreed. Fifteen states plus D.C. have similar laws. Roughly 103,000 mail ballots were rejected for late arrival in 2024.
  • What’s at stake: A ruling against Mississippi could force 15 states to rewrite voting laws before November 2026, with military and overseas voters among those most affected. Justices appeared ready to overturn the law at argument, with some signaling interest in a broader ruling on mail voting.

Little v. Hecox & West Virginia v. B.P.J. – Transgender Athletes in School Sports

  • The cases: Two consolidated cases challenging Idaho and West Virginia laws barring transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams in public schools and colleges. The Court is deciding whether these bans violate the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause or Title IX.
  • Background: Idaho enacted the first such law in 2020; West Virginia followed in 2021. Twenty-seven states now have similar restrictions. Both lower courts found the laws discriminatory. Oral arguments were held January 13, 2026.
  • What’s at stake: A ruling upholding the bans would effectively greenlight all 27 existing state laws. The legal standard the Court adopts — and how broadly it writes the opinion — could have implications beyond sports for other laws that distinguish on the basis of sex or gender identity. Court watchers broadly expected the bans to be upheld.

All four decisions are expected before July — closing out a term that has already struck down the president’s tariffs and reshaped voting rights. The stakes are high.