Getting an early start on the new term, the U.S. Supreme Court on September 25 added six new cases to its docket, including a case asking whether the litigation exception to thefederal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act protects lawyers who use car buyers’ personal information for a potential class action.
The new term officially begins on Monday, October 1, but as has been the practice in recent years, the justices released an orders list of newly granted petitions the day after meeting intheir summer conference. However, in a break with tradition, the Court released the orders list a half hour earlier than the usual 10 a.m. time. At the request of news media, Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and his colleagues approved the earlier time in order to enable reporters who must meet early filing deadlines on argument days to get to the courtroom in time for the start of oral arguments at 10 a.m. The change also will minimize past disruptions in the press section as late-arriving reporters required shifts in seating arrangements.
