The court has heard four days of arguments that had been postponed because of the virus outbreak and has two more days to go. Decisions are expected by early summer.
Some observations, trivia and analysis from our Supreme Court reporters (all times local):
1:50 p.m.
The Supreme Court has finished hearing arguments in two cases involving President Donald Trump’s bid to keep his tax, bank and other financial records private.
Though the justices’ discussion was lengthy, it was unclear whether they would uphold lower court decisions that found subpoenas to Trump’s accountant and banks by Manhattan prosecutors and Congress are valid and should be enforced.
The arguments were conducted by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic. They lasted for about three hours and 20 minutes. That’s about an hour and 20 minutes longer than questioning would have lasted in the courtroom.
The court heard phone arguments on four previous days. But Tuesday was the first time Chief Justice John Roberts allowed some latitude for additional rounds of questioning.
The court is scheduled to hear two more arguments by phone on Wednesday. It’s the last day phone arguments are scheduled.
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1:25 p.m.
If President Donald Trump was paying attention to Supreme Court arguments being broadcast live in a case about access to his financial records, his tweets didn’t show it.
As the Supreme Court heard arguments by phone on Tuesday, Trump pontificated on Twitter on other issues.
Trump weighed in on Elon Musk reopening Tesla’s California plant in defiance of local authorities. Trump wants it open, too.
Trump also weighed in on oil prices, interest rates, his likely opponent in the November election and his critics. He tweeted: “So interesting to see all of these people I beat so badly, pundits & consultants that never had a chance, telling me how to run for office."
Before arguments began, Trump weighed in on one of his favorite topics, approval ratings, by saying those governors with sky high approval for their handling of the coronavirus could not have had that success without him and "the Federal Governments help.”
The court has been hearing arguments by phone because of the coronavirus.
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Noon
The Supreme Court has begun hearing its second phone argument of the day, this one about a Manhattan district attorney's office subpoena seeking financial documents from President Donald Trump.
Trump is fighting subpoenas by Congress and prosecutors as he seeks to shield his tax, bank and financial records. Earlier Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments about the congressional effort.
Rulings against Trump could result in the release of information during his campaign for reelection.
In Tuesday's first case, the justices asked whether there is any limit to Congress’ ability to subpoena records related to the president. Justice Sonia Sotomayor told Trump's lawyer "there is a long, long history of Congress seeking records and getting them ... from presidents.”
The court is hearing the arguments by phone because of the coronavirus pandemic. Live audio is available.
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11:30 a.m.
Supreme Court justices are asking whether there is any limit to Congress’ ability to subpoena records related to the president.
The Supreme Court is taking up President Donald Trump’s bid to shield his bank and financial records from Congress. Several justices want to know whether there’s a limit to ensure subpoenas aren’t used to harass the president.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg asked a lawyer arguing Tuesday on behalf of the House of Representatives: “The concern has been expressed that Congress could be using this subpoena power to harass a political rival ... so what is the limiting principle?"
Justice Brett Kavanaugh is one of Trump’s two nominees to the court. Kavanaugh asked the lawyer for the House: “The question then boils down to how can we both protect the House’s interest in obtaining information it needs to legislate but also protect the presidency. How can the court balance those interests?”
Trump is fighting subpoenas by congressional committees and Manhattan prosecutors for tax records. The court is hearing arguments by phone because of the coronavirus.
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