Supreme Court opens new term Monday with Justice Kagan on the bench

New Supreme Court term starts Monday

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is starting its new term with a new justice, Elena Kagan, and bad news for hundreds of parties trying to get their cases heard at the high court.

The justices are expected to start work Monday by denying many of the nearly 2,000 appeals that piled up in recent months. The court also is hearing argument in a bankruptcy dispute and an appeal by criminal defendants seeking shorter prison terms.

Kagan replaced Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired in June after more than 34 years on the court.

For the first time, three women are serving together on the nine-justice court. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor are the others.

By law, the court starts its new term on the first Monday in October.