The Supreme Court returns to the bench Monday to begin its new term after a summer that was anything but quiet. But it’s the cases not yet scheduled that could have the biggest impact. 

That’s because of the court’s “shadow docket,” which allows justices to grant emergency orders and rulings, or even add cases to the schedule. 

Through that mechanism, the court has already set up a hearing for December on a controversial policy in which people who cannot be deported to their homeland are instead sent to a third country. It’s part of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

The court agreed to take up the case — after a lower court ordered the cancellation of a deportation flight carrying around 70 people.

“I, at this point, see no signs that the Trump administration is going to significantly slow down,” said Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson.

At the same time, the court is preparing for the wild card of the midterms this November, which could potentially lead to litigation and emergency appeals.

“Even though we have a piece of the puzzle, we do not have a clear view of what the Supreme Court term looks like,” said Levinson.

Already, the high court has a full docket. Justices will hear arguments Monday about whether states can hold private companies responsible for damage caused by releasing dangerous chemicals into the environment.

“The question really is whether or not there can be actions under state law for greenhouse emissions that lead to climate change or whether or not those types of claims can only be heard under federal law,” Levinson said.

The case has garnered attention, especially after Justice Samuel Alito announced his recusal. He didn’t give a reason, but it came after several left-leaning groups raised concerns about his stock holdings in oil companies.

The court will also hear a case on whether a state can limit AR-15-style semiautomatic weapons, a case on additional requirements for voter registration and a case on parental rights when a runaway child experiencing gender dysphoria is provided shelter.

Although President Donald Trump has benefitted from the conservative 6-3 majority in his second term, it doesn’t mean every decision has gone his way. In several cases the conservative members, including Chief Justice John Roberts, have sided with the three liberal justices.

Some decisions will come down as soon as December, but the bulk of the cases won’t be decided until late next spring.