Affirmative action: a constitutional test of college admissions policies that help minorities, expected to be the court's most significant ruling about race in a generation. Grutter v. Bollinger, 02-241; Gratz v. Bollinger, 02-516.
Sodomy: whether states can punish gay couples for engaging in sexual acts that are legal for heterosexual couples, a follow-up to a ruling 17 years ago that upheld a sodomy ban. Lawrence v. Texas, 02-102.
Internet filters: whether Congress can require public libraries to install software to filter out pornography as a condition for receiving federal money. United States v. American Library Association, 02-361.
Forced drugging: whether nonviolent criminal defendants can be forced to take anti-psychotic drugs that may make them well enough to stand trial. Sell v. U.S., 02-5664
Death penalty: a death row inmate appeal that gives the court its clearest recent opportunity to set some standards for lawyers. The Maryland inmate claims inexperienced lawyers badly botched his trial. Wiggins v. Smith, 02-311.
Free speech: a review of the scope of corporate free-speech protection in a case that involves sneaker maker Nike and allegations it lied about working conditions in overseas factories. Nike v. Kasky, 02-575.
Campaign donations: whether groups with a point of view on such subjects as gun rights or abortion should be allowed to make political donations. It tests the constitutionality of a 32-year-old federal donation ban. Federal Election Commission v. Beaumont, 02-403.
Child molestation: whether states can erase statutes of limitations to revive prosecutions in old crimes. A California man was charged with molesting his daughters almost 50 years ago. Stogner v. California, 01-1757.