WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to open 2026 with a blockbuster docket that includes some of the most politically and legally charged issues of the day: transgender rights in school sports, the reach of the Second Amendment, and former President Donald Trump’s controversial effort to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook from her post.
According to the Court’s newly released argument calendar, the justices will hear seven cases over five days beginning January 12, 2026. Among the most closely watched is *Trump v. Cook*, scheduled for January 21, which centers on the boundaries of presidential power and the independence of the Federal Reserve.
Lisa Cook, appointed to the Fed’s Board of Governors in 2023 by President Joe Biden for a 14-year term, was targeted for removal by Trump earlier this year. Trump accused her of committing mortgage fraud in 2021 — allegations Cook has denied as both “flimsy” and “unproven.” A federal judge in Washington, D.C., U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb, issued an order blocking Trump from firing Cook while litigation continues. Both the D.C. Circuit Court and the Supreme Court have thus far declined to pause that injunction, opting instead to fast-track the case for oral argument.
Legal scholars say the outcome could have far-reaching implications for the structure and independence of so-called “independent agencies,” whose leaders are typically shielded from at-will presidential removal to insulate economic policy from political turbulence.
“Whatever the Court decides, this case tests the limits of executive authority over institutions designed to operate with a degree of autonomy,” said constitutional law professor Elena Rodriguez of Georgetown University.
The January session also features two major cases concerning transgender athletes. On January 13, the Court will hear *Little v. Hecox* and *West Virginia v. B. P. J.*, both challenging state laws that ban transgender girls and women from participating on female sports teams in educational settings. The 9th Circuit struck down Idaho’s law as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause, while the 4th Circuit found West Virginia’s ban incompatible with Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.
Adding to the high-profile lineup is *Wolford v. Lopez*, set for January 20, which questions the constitutionality of a Hawaii law that criminalizes carrying a handgun—even with a concealed-carry permit—on private property without the owner’s explicit permission. Gun rights advocates argue the law effectively nullifies the right to bear arms outside the home, following the Court’s expansive interpretation of the Second Amendment in recent rulings like *Bruen* (2022).
Other cases include disputes over federal jurisdiction in environmental litigation (*Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish*) and the legal status of the New Jersey Transit Corporation (*Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corp.*), as well as a technical but significant pension fund withdrawal question under ERISA (*M & K Employee Solutions v. Trustees of the IAM Pension Fund*).
With rulings expected by summer 2026, these cases could influence not just legal doctrine but also the political landscape heading into the next election cycle. For now, all eyes turn to the marble halls of the Supreme Court, where arguments in January may shape American law—and life—for years to come.
