Supreme Court 2026 Term Highlights Stakes for Voting Access, Constitutional Protections, and the Rule of Law

American Constitution Society emphasizes a fair, independent, and transparent judiciary remains essential to a functioning democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the U.S. Supreme Court beginning its 2026-27 Term today, the American Constitution Society (ACS) released a statement underscoring how the Court's decisions over the coming nine months will profoundly shape corporate accountability, voting rights, public safety, and the relationship between our everyday lives and the rule of law.

The Court this term will take up disputes over voting restrictions, local gun-safety measures, and corporate liability for climate-related harms. As in previous terms, the upcoming decisions of the Court’s conservative supermajority carry real consequences for everyday Americans, with the potential to fundamentally clarify or alter democratic protections, regulatory safeguards, legal precedents, and judicial restraint.

“The upcoming term is a defining test for our constitutional democracy,” said Phil Brest, president of the American Constitution Society. “Corporate interests are asking the Court to shield them from accountability for the climate crisis, while partisan actors are pushing severe proof-of-citizenship requirements designed to restrict voter registration. These are not abstract legal questions. This conservative supermajority has repeatedly pushed the rule of law to the breaking point. Its decisions could rewrite constitutional norms and reshape American life for generations while continuing to further erode public confidence in the judiciary.”

The Court’s ongoing reliance on emergency orders and the shadow docket further undermines transparency and public accountability. With pivotal elections approaching, the country cannot afford a judiciary that operates without meaningful checks. A fair, independent, and transparent Court is essential to constitutional democracy.

ACS will host its virtual Annual National Supreme Court Preview on October 20 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. ET. During the event, leading legal scholars will examine the term’s most consequential cases and spell out their real-world consequences.

The American Constitution Society tracks pivotal cases and trends during the Supreme Court term, focusing on democracy, rule of law, voting rights, election security, reproductive freedom, and equality. Media representatives interested in interviewing ACS experts should contact Communications Vice President Nancy Rodriguez at media@acslaw.org.

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AMERICAN CONSTITUTION SOCIETY
The American Constitution Society is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan legal organization. Through a diverse nationwide network of progressive lawyers, law students, judges, scholars, advocates, and many others, our mission is to support and advocate for laws and legal systems that redress the founding failures of our Constitution, strengthen our democratic legitimacy, uphold the rule of law, and realize the promise of equality for all, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, and other historically excluded communities. For more information, visit us at www.acslaw.org.