[JURIST] The US Supreme Court [official website; JURIST news archive] granted certiorari Monday in four cases [order list, PDF]. The two consolidated cases, Washington State Grange v. Washington Republican Party (06-713) [docket] and State of Washington v. Washington Republican Party (06-730) [docket; cert. petition, PDF] on appeal from the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit [official website] consider whether the Democratic and Republican parties of Washington state can successfully challenge the legality of the voter-approved "Top 2" primary system on constitutional grounds. The system would allow two candidates from the same political party to advance from a primary to the general election. AP has more.

In Board of Education of the City School District of the City of New York v. Tom F. on behalf of Gilbert F. (06-637) [docket], the Court will consider whether the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit [official website] correctly decided [opinion text, PDF] that the parents of a learning-disabled student could be reimbursed for the costs of enrolling their child in a private school after deciding the public school's special education program did not sufficiently satisfy their child's needs under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act [text]. AP has more.

The Supreme Court will also determine whether a mandatory five-year sentence must be imposed in conjunction with a drug crime because a gun has be "used" in Watson v. United States (06-571) [docket] on appeal from a decision [opinion text, PDF] by the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit [official website]. SCOTUSblog has more.