U.S. Supreme Court Kicks Off New Term

Today is the first Monday in October, signaling the start of a new U.S. Supreme Court term. In the coming months, the nation's highest court is expected to hear oral arguments and hand down rulings in a number of key cases -- on issues like pharmaceutical company liability, "light" cigarette advertising, broadcast indecency, liability for detainees' civil rights violations, and more. Take a look at some of the stories and viewpoints making headlines as the new U.S. Supreme Court term begins:

• Reuters: Court Term to Hear Tobacco, TV Dirty Words Cases
• MSNBC: Supreme Court to Tackle Cigarette, Drug Issues
• Chicago Tribune: Drama Again on the Supreme Court Docket
• NPR: Consumer Issues Top Supreme Court's Docket
• N.Y. Times: Editorial - The Supreme Court's New Term
• Washington Post: Supreme Court's Direction Hinges on Who Wins '08 Race
• FindLaw's Writ: Judicial Appointments - What's on Tap From Obama or McCain?

Learn more about cases before the Court for the October 2008 term, its current Justices, Court history, and more, with resources from FindLaw and the U.S. Supreme Court's official site:

• Granted and Noted List: October 2008 Term - A look at cases before the Court for the new term (from USSC site).
• Current Supreme Court Justices - Information on the current members of the Court (from USSC site).
• History of the Supreme Court - The Court's creation, procedures, and decision-making from (USSC site).
• Key U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on Civil Rights - Information on each case, and links to the full-text decisions (from FindLaw).
• U.S. Supreme Court News - The latest stories on the Court (from FindLaw).
• U.S. Supreme Court Awareness Survey - How many Americans could name at least one U.S. Supreme Court Justice? See the results of FindLaw's survey.
• Supreme Court of the United States - The official site of the U.S. Supreme Court.