Summary

  • The US Supreme Court announced four new opinions on cases it has been considering this term

  • Justices are due to rule in the coming weeks on matters including whether the former president, Donald Trump, should be immune from criminal prosecution

  • America's highest court has also been scrutinising charges for Jan 6 rioters, and it has an outstanding to make on exceptions to Idaho's near-total abortion ban

  • The court goes on recess over the summer, meaning that it is running out of time to issue opinions on some of its most closely-watch cases

  • However, we do not know in advance when such decisions will be published

  • In one of its most recent high-profile decisions, a divided court lifted a Trump-era ban on a rapid-fire gun accessory known as bump stocks

  1. We're pausing our live coveragepublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 20 June

    Caitlin Wilson
    Reporting from Washington, DC

    We're pausing our Supreme Court live coverage for the day.

    The court announced four decisions today, about tax laws, criminal procedures, drug trafficking and free speech rights. You can read the justices' decisions here, external.

    We're still waiting to learn about some of the court's biggest decisions for this term, including whether Donald Trump could have immunity in the host of criminal charges he faces or the fate of those charged in the 6 January riots at the US Capitol.

    We could hear about those decisions tomorrow or next week, so join us then for more live coverage.

    This page was edited by Brandon Livesay and Caitlin Wilson. The writers were Christal Hayes and Laura Blasey.

  2. Third and fourth decisions issuedpublished at 15:26 British Summer Time 20 June

    The third opinion, external issued by the justices revolves around a drug trafficking case and the US border. The fourth, external concerned the First Amendment, free speech rights and whether authorities had the right to arrest a Texas woman.

    These were the final opinions issued today, meaning we won't learn whether Donald Trump could have potential immunity in the host of criminal charges he faces or the fate of those charged in the 6 January riots at the US Capitol.

  3. Second opinion issuedpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 20 June

    The second opinion has been issued. It's about the Fourth Amendment and criminal procedures.

    If you want to read more on the opinion, you can see the full decision here, external.

    We're still waiting for the justices to weigh in on a number of larger issues, from Donald Trump's potential criminal immunity and the 6 January riots at the Capitol.

  4. Postpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 20 June

    A graphic of the Supreme Court justices and whether they were nominated by a Republican or Democratic president
  5. First decision announcedpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 20 June

    The first decision is about tax laws.

    The larger decisions we are looking out for today are about Donald Trump's presidential immunity, and the 6 January riots at the Capitol.

    If you are interested reading more about the mandatory repatriation taxes, you can see the full decision here, external.

  6. Decisions about to be announcedpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 20 June

    Brandon Livesay
    US reporter

    As we mentioned earlier, we won't know what decisions the US Supreme Court will announce today. But in a couple of minutes we will get the first decision.

    Our North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher is here with us and is ready to explain whatever comes next.

    Stick with us.

  7. US Election Unspun - the new BBC newsletterpublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 20 June

    It's a very busy year in US politics.

    Americans go to the polls in November and the race for the White House is well under way. And it's going to get noisy.

    So if you want to keep track of what actually matters in the race, and why, we're launching a newsletter to keep you informed.

    If you're in the UK, sign up here.

    And if you're anywhere else, sign up here.

  8. Who are the justices on the Supreme Court?published at 14:52 British Summer Time 20 June

    U.S. Supreme Court justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and Elena Kagan pose for their group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC.Image source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A file photo of the US Supreme Court justices

    Top row, left to right:

    Amy Coney Barrett - On the court since 2020. The conservative justice is popular with the religious right.

    Neil Gorsuch - On the court since 2017, his appointment cemented a conservative advantage.

    Brett Kavanaugh - On the court since 2018, his views on abortion, environment and gun laws have been criticised by some Democrats.

    Ketanji Brown Jackson - The first black woman to sit on the court when she was confirmed in 2022. The liberal justice has been criticised by some conservatives for being "soft" on criminals.

    Bottom row, left to right:

    Sonia Sotomayor - The court's first Hispanic justice has been on the court since 2009. The liberal justice is known for her best-selling memoir.

    Clarence Thomas - On the court since 1991. The conservative once went a decade without asking a question in oral arguments - he broke his silence in 2016 during a hearing about gun ownership.

    John Roberts - The Chief Justice has been on the court since 2005. He's a conservative justice who notably sided with his more liberal peers to vote in favour of Obamacare - President Barack Obama's healthcare law.

    Samuel Alito - The conservative justice has been on the court since 2006. He is not overly talkative in oral arguments but his questions are sharp.

    Elena Kagan - On the court since 2010, she is part of the court's minority left-leaning wing. Her writing is often easy for a layperson to understand.

    You can read more about the justices here.

  9. Welcome to our Supreme Court coveragepublished at 14:48 British Summer Time 20 June

    Caitlin Wilson
    Reporting from Washington, DC

    Hello and welcome to our live coverage the US Supreme Court, which will announce some of its new decisions shortly.

    There are only days left in the court's session for this term and we're still waiting for several important rulings - including whether former US President Donald Trump is immune from criminal prosecution for alleged acts taken while he was in the White House.

    Trump, who is facing multiple cases over his alleged conduct in office, has argued that he cannot be criminally charged over allegations of efforts to subvert the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election.

    The court is also expected to rule in the coming days on whether defendants charged in the 6 January, 2021 riot at the US Capitol can be charged with obstructing an official proceeding.

    Stay with us as we bring you all the news and analysis.