Supreme Court Calendar: 10 Cases to Watch in Jan.

If you take a look at the U.S. Supreme Court's calendar for January, you may notice a few cases that are of particular interest to you.

From gun ownership rights to presidential powers, the Court is slated to hear a wide variety of legal issues over five days of oral arguments this month.

Here are 10 Supreme Court cases to watch, in chronological order:

1. National Labor Relations Board v. Noel Canning (January 13). A hot political topic, this case will explore the president's power to make appointments during Senate recesses.
2. Executive Benefits Insurance Agency v. Arkison (January 14). In this case, the question is whether one of the parties in a bankruptcy case can give bankruptcy judges the authority via consent to rule on issues that the Constitution doesn't give them power to rule on.
3. United States v. Quality Stores (January 14).The IRS is certainly keeping a close eye on this case, which explores the taxation of severance payments and will clarify whether laid-off workers must pay Social Security and Medicare taxes.
4. McCullen v. Coakley (January 15).This deeply emotional case will analyze the constitutionality of a Massachusetts law that bans anti-abortion protesters near clinics. With reproductive rights and free speech involved, this case on abortion clinic buffer zones will certainly stir emotions and public opinion.
5. United States v. Castleman (January 15). This interesting sentencing case will clarify a federal law that prohibits gun possession by those convicted of a domestic violence offense.
6. Harris v. Quinn (January 21). In this case, the question is whether a state can require personal-care providers to pay fees to a labor union to represent them before state agencies.
7. Petrella v. Metro-Goldwin-Mayer (January 21). A relative of one of the writers for "Raging Bull" began the story of this case, which questions whether a copyright claim is barred by laches, an unreasonable delay in pursuing a claim.
8. Navarette v. California (January 21). A big case for the Fourth Amendment and traffic stops, this case will explore reasonable suspicion and police authority to stop a vehicle based upon an anonymous tip of drunken or reckless driving.
9. Paroline v. United States (January 22). Affecting victims like Masha Allen, this heart-wrenching case will analyze the ability of federal courts to order restitution as a remedy to victims of child pornography.
10. Abramski v. United States (January 22). The question in this gun rights case: When you buy a gun with the intent to sell it to another lawful buyer, is that a violation of the federal law against "straw purchasers" of guns -- those who purchase guns as a proxy for someone else?

Is there a case you're especially excited about? Tweet us at @FindLawConsumer.

Related Resources:

• How Does the U.S. Supreme Court Work? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
• FindLaw Survey: Can You Name the Supreme Court? (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
• Supreme Court Rules on Gay Marriage Cases (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
• Obama Recess Appointments Ruling May Affect NLRB Decisions (FindLaw's Decided)