WASHINGTON _ It's decision time at the Supreme Court, as the justices prepare to hand down the final rulings of their current term by the end of this month. They are due to rule in 21 cases, including disputes over religion, free speech and immigration that could have broad significance.
This year's term has been quieter than normal. It began in the fall when eight justices were waiting for the presidential election to decide who would fill the seat left vacant by the death of Antonin Scalia. New Justice Neil M. Gorsuch arrived in mid-April in time to hear about a dozen cases.
Most of this year's docket was taken up with cases that asked the justices to clarify the law, not settle a highly contentious issue.
Before their summer recess, the justices are also expected to act on several pending appeals.
Lawyers for President Donald Trump want the court to issue an order putting into effect his scaled-down foreign travel ban and then to grant review in the fall of the appeals court ruling that declared it unconstitutional.
The justices have also spent weeks considering appeals in three cases that could lead to major rulings if they are granted review for the fall. One involves a Colorado baker who turned away a gay couple's request for a wedding cake. At issue is a clash between religious rights and a state's anti-discrimination law.
The other two cases test the reach of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms.
The court is also expected to take up a major case on partisan gerrymandering from Wisconsin which could yield early next year an important ruling on political power.
Here are notable cases due to be decided this month:
