SCOTUStoday, February 17: Opinion Days Teased, Map Deadline Looms, and California’s Pronoun Fight Waits in the Wings

The Supreme Court does not exactly run on your schedule, my schedule, or the schedule of any American just trying to get through the week. It runs on its own clock, and on Tuesday, Feb. 17, SCOTUSblog’s SCOTUStoday newsletter laid out a few key dates and pressure points worth watching. This was not a list of outcomes or predictions. It was a practical heads up about what the Court has signaled it might do next, plus a snapshot of what’s bubbling on the docket.

Possible opinion days: Feb. 20, 24, and 25

SCOTUSblog reports that the Supreme Court has indicated it may announce opinions on Friday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. Eastern. SCOTUSblog plans to host a live blog that morning, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Eastern.

The newsletter also notes the Court may announce opinions on Tuesday, Feb. 24, and Wednesday, Feb. 25, with SCOTUSblog planning live blogs on those days as well. The key word across all of this is “may.” These are possible opinion days, not guaranteed fireworks.

New York’s 2026 congressional map fight lands at the Court

The newsletter says that on the prior Friday, a Republican member of Congress, a group of voters, and New York election officials asked the Supreme Court to allow New York to proceed with the 2026 elections using its existing congressional map.

SCOTUSblog adds a near-term procedural detail: the voters challenging the current map were asked to respond to those new filings by Thursday at 4 p.m. Eastern. The newsletter item focuses on the posture and the timing, not a final ruling.

A California interim-docket dispute over names, pronouns, and parental notification

SCOTUSblog also flags a pending interim-docket case involving California policies on parental notification when a student chooses to use different names or pronouns. The newsletter notes the Court could rule at any time on that application, meaning movement could come without a long runway.

Next arguments: Feb. 23, start of the February sitting

Finally, the newsletter notes that the Court will next hear arguments on Monday, Feb. 23, the first day of its February sitting. The Morning Reads section also points readers to outside coverage touching on topics like tariffs, redistricting, temporary protected status, and First Amendment questions related to medical advice.