Pre-game preparations are underway for the first Monday in October when the U.S. Supreme Court will commence its 2011-12 Term.  Here are the employment-related cases that are expected to be decided this Term.

Hosanna-Tabor Church v. EEOC (10-553)  To decide whether the ministerial exception, which prohibits most employment-related lawsuits against religious organizations by employees performing religious functions, applies to a teacher at a religious elementary school who teaches the full secular curriculum, but also teaches daily religion classes, is a commissioned minister, and regularly leads students in prayer and worship.— (to be argued Oct. 5, 2011)

Coleman v. Maryland Court of Appeals (No.10-1016) To decide whether Congress constitutionally abrogated states’ Eleventh Amendment immunity when it passed the self-care leave provision of the Family and Medical Leave Act. 

Knox v. SEIU (No. 10-1121) To decide whether (1) a State, consistent with the First and Fourteenth Amendments, condition employment on the payment of a special union assessment intended solely for political and ideological expenditures without first providing a notice that includes information about that assessment and provides an opportunity to object to its exaction and (2) a State, consistent with the First and Fourteenth Amendments, condition continued public employment on the payment of union agency fees for purposes of financing political expenditures for ballot measures?

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