On June 30, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a so-called "mop-up" order list shortly after releasing its opinion in Barbara, addressing several long-pending cases. Among them, the Court granted review in an AR-15 related case that had been relisted multiple times over six months.

The AR-15 case was originally filed in August 2025 in Cook County, Illinois. The petition for certiorari was filed by John Sauer in October 2024 while he was still in private practice. The case had been delayed extensively, with relists occurring at nearly every conference from December 2025 through June 2026. The Court's grant marks a rare instance of approval after so many relists, with speculation that a Justice named Wolford may have contributed to the delay.

Additionally, the Court took up a petition involving the Arizona Save Woman's Sports Act, which had been pending for nearly two years. This petition raises a significant legal question: whether government officials may effectively circumvent the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) by burdening religious exercise through procedural delays, such as serial continuances and shifting demands, while avoiding a final denial that would allow judicial review. The petition argues that the lower court's decision permits a Kafkaesque scenario where officials block religious property use and prevent courts from hearing the merits by withholding a formal "no" vote.

Other notable issues referenced include policies in Cook County concerning the treatment of biologically male inmates who self-identify as female, specifically restrictions on searches by male officers absent emergencies and housing arrangements.

The Court's expedited handling of these cases suggests a desire to resolve backlog before the Independence Day recess.

Sources

  • Reason, Josh Blackman, "Mopping Up The Supreme Court's Docket," June 30, 2026, link