- Decided to let a Muslim woman sue Southern California jailers for making her take off her head scarf in a courthouse holding cell. The court refused to hear an appeal from Orange County, Calif., officials, who were sued in 2007 by Souhair Khatib. The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments that holding cells aren’t covered by a federal law protecting the religious practices of prisoners.
- Refused to hear a Maryland man’s argument that the Second Amendment allows him to carry a gun outside of his home for self-defense. Charles F. Williams Jr. was arrested in 2007 for having his legally purchased handgun outside his home without a state permit.
- Passed up a chance to decide whether police need a search warrant before they look at text messages and other information on the cellphones of people they have arrested. The justices rejected an appeal from a California man suspected of taking part in a drug deal.
- Declared moot an appeal of a ruling against Dallas County, Texas, which was sued by the Texas Democratic Party over the use of a certain electronic voting machine. The Justice Department has since approved the machines.
- Turned away another challenge to President Obama’s eligibility to be president, refusing to hear a challenge brought by conservative activist Alan Keyes and the American Independent Party, who contended that Obama was not a US citizen.
- Refused to hear the appeal of an Ohio judge wanting to display a poster of the Ten Commandments in his courtroom. The display has been covered since a federal judge ordered Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese to remove it in October 2009.
