by MBLC Library Informations Specialist, Kate Butler
The Supreme Court has issued its final merit cases decisions on June 27. These are opinions on the cases that came before the whole court with oral arguments – what you traditionally think of as court cases.
E-rate helps public libraries and schools connect users to the internet, fast. E-rate is a federally funded program offering 20-90% discounts on high-speed broadband, and the equipment and support services that make that connectivity work. In FY2025, 269 Massachusetts public libraries are part of networks that get E-Rate funding in some amount. E-Rate is not an IMLS program. It is paid out of the Universal Service Fund overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
The Supreme Court heard arguments back in March in the case of the FCC vs. Consumers’ Research, a conservative group objecting to the way E-Rate is managed by the FCC. The decision was good for E-Rate and rejected the contention that the way it was being run violated the law. However, the program is not totally safe, given it is also facing action from Congress (specifically about the funding for Wi-Fi hotspots) and and potential changes from within the FCC, given current FCC Chair Brendan Carr dissented from some decisions voted in by the FCC commission during the Biden administration.But this is a good win. PBS has more news on this outcome.
Mahmoud v. Taylor, about LGBTQ+ books may have implications for libraries. It is focused on schools/classrooms and opt-outs. The court found in favor of the parents and their religious objections and stated opt-outs are required.
From SCOTUSblog: The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that a group of Maryland parents have a right to opt their elementary-school-aged children out of instruction that includes LGBTQ+ themes. By a vote of 6-3, the justices agreed with the parents – who are Muslim, Catholic, and Ukrainian Orthodox – that the Montgomery County school board’s refusal to provide them with that option violates their constitutional right to freely exercise their religion.
There are still 6 items that remain on the court’s shadow docket, cases that they’ve agreed to deal with on an “emergency basis.” Two of these could affect what’s going on with Institute of Museum and Library Services – MacMahon vs. New York (about the reduction in force of Department of Education employees) and Trump v American Federation of Government Employees (about the ability of the executive branch to reorganize the whole government on a mass scale). And there is no way to know when those will be decided. The MBLC is monitoring the cases and will share further info as we get it.