A new Supreme Court term begins with cases on climate change and gun rights

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court’s new term begins Monday with cases on climate change, religious rights and President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration high on the agenda.

Here’s a look at what’s in store:

The high court is starting its term with a major climate change case. The justices will hear an appeal from energy companies trying to block dozens of lawsuits seeking to hold them liable in court for damage related to climate change.

Billions of dollars are potentially at stake in a case out of Boulder, Colorado, where local officials say the industry should help shoulder the escalating costs of disasters linked to climate change.

The companies, Suncor and ExxonMobil, say lawsuits aren’t the way to deal with the global issue. They have the backing of the Trump administration, which argues the litigation is a power grab intended to impose regulations on emissions.

About a dozen states have banned semiautomatic rifles like AR-15s, which are often called assault weapons. They say the guns are disproportionately used in mass shootings, and banning them helps reduce gun violence.

Challengers say those laws violate the Second Amendment. They argue that AR-15s and other similar weapons are among the most popular and…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business