When the Supreme Court returns from its summer break and begins its next session, it will begin its first full year with Justice Samuel Alito, confirmed to a lifetime appointment in January 2006. In his short time on the bench, Justice Alito has already developed a record that places him firmly on the right of the Court. In an opinion in a sexual harassment case, and in his vote on an environmental issue, Justice Alito demonstrated his willingness to accept limits on civil rights and his skepticism of federal power to protect the environment. Justice Alito's presence, combined with the still recent confirmation of Chief Justice John Roberts in September 2005, means the current Court is markedly different from those that have decided many civil rights issues in the past.

Though the Court has yet to announce all the cases it will hear next year, it's already shaping up to be an important one for those interested in civil rights across several issue areas. The Court's decisions in the following cases will have long-lasting impacts on all of us for years to come.