With Republicans controlling Congress, the Supreme Court could emerge as a strong potential check on President-elect Donald Trump’s boundary-testing agenda.
The cases explore whether Congress violated the Constitution when it allowed the Federal Communications Commission to gather fees to help pay for critical telecommunications services in communities that might not otherwise have it.
Jabs over whether to pressure Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito to retire could reflect a split between Trump allies and other conservative lawyers.
Some liberals called for Justice Sonia Sotomayor to retire before Donald Trump returns to the White House. But Democrats would struggle to confirm a replacement.
The Supreme Court cleared the way for Pennsylvania voters to submit provisional ballots as a remedy for improperly cast absentee ballots in the presidential election.