"While a maelstrom of controversy surrounds President Trump's nominee to the Supreme Court, the sitting justices are preparing for a new term.

It'll be a busy year.

The high court's agenda so far is heavy on cases with big implications for environmental policy. The justices will kick off their term next week with a Monday morning showdown over the Endangered Species Act.

"This term is going to be more of a blockbuster, clearly, than last term in terms of environmental and energy law," University of Colorado law professor Sharon Jacobs said.

In addition to the ESA case, the court will hear disputes over property rights, uranium mining and public lands management. The term will also feature nonenvironmental litigation over executive branch power that could have spillover effects across many agencies."

Ellen M. Gilmer reports for Greenwire September 24, 2018. [2]