The U.S. Supreme Court has returned from its summer break and will begin hearing new cases on Monday from its 2014-2015 term. As in previous years, the Court once again finds itself at the center of some of the most contentious disputes in American politics, from the conflict over aggressive law enforcement tactics to the debate over government accommodations for religious liberty to the argument about occupational licensing abuse. Here are three Supreme Court cases to watch in October 2014.

1. Heien v. North Carolina

In 2009, North Carolina police stopped a vehicle on account of a broken right brake light. The car's left brake light worked just fine. That traffic stop led to a search of the vehicle, which in turn led to the discovery of a plastic sandwich bag filled with cocaine. The driver, Nicholas Heien, was arrested and charged with attempted drug trafficking.