Andrew Chung and Lawrence Hurley

WASHINGTON (Reuters] – The U.S. Supreme Court justices have been set to put on their black robes again Monday behind a mahogany table in the grand courtroom as they begin oral arguments in person for first time since COVID-19 Pandemic Disruptions began last year.

The nine justices, along with lawyers, court staff, and journalists will gather in the spacious, column-lined courtroom to begin their nine-month term. It is an initial step toward normalcy. The public is not allowed to attend.

Due to pandemics, the court has been closed since March 2020. The justices will hear oral arguments by teleconference.

In a sign of how planning during the pandemic is constantly in flux, preparations for the new term were disrupted on Friday when Justice Brett Kavanaugh tested positive https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-supreme-court-justice-kavanaugh-tests-positive-covid-19-court-statement-2021-10-01 for the coronavirus, although the court said he had no COVID-19 symptoms. According to the court, Kavanaugh will be participating remotely Monday.

Although lawyers are legally required to have their coronavirus tested, it is not mandatory.

This pandemic forced changes on the traditional-bound court. The court will continue to use live audio for oral arguments in its new term, something it had previously rejected, until May 2020 when the pandemic forced them into action.

An adaptation of the oral argument format has also been made to permit lightning rounds of questions from each justice. This is a change over how the court conducts teleconference arguments.

Teleconference arguments were structured differently to the old rough-and-tumble method in which judges competed against each other for a word. Justice Clarence Thomas was famously unable to speak during oral arguments in person. However, during the teleconference arguments, Thomas frequently asked questions.

The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, returns to action at a time when it is coming under close scrutiny https://www.reuters.com/world/us/political-crosshairs-us-supreme-court-weighs-abortion-guns-2021-10-01 after the justices on Sept. 1 allowed a restrictive Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy to go into effect.

Among the cases https://www.reuters.com/world/us/abortion-gun-rights-religion-agenda-us-supreme-court-2021-10-01 the justices are due to hear during their new term is a major challenge to abortion rights involving Mississippi’s bid to revive a Republican-backed state law that bans the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Mississippi asked the court for an injunction to invalidate the Roe v. Wade 1973 ruling which legalized abortion across the country.

A challenge from the National Rifle Association is also being presented to them regarding New York State’s prohibitions on concealing handguns in public. It could be a case that further weakens firearms control efforts nationwide.

On Monday, the court will hear arguments in two criminal cases. One involves a man who was convicted for being a felon of possession of firearms. The other is a dispute over water rights between Mississippi and Tennessee.

The term of the court runs until June next year.

The nine justices have been all vaccinated against COVID-19. It has proved to be especially dangerous for the elderly.