Good morning and welcome to Supreme Court Brief. The justices held their long summer conference Tuesday, a little more than a week after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The court is preparing to start the new term Monday with eight justices—the second time in recent years, following the death of Antonin Scalia. One ritual observed by some of them over the years—the annual Red Mass—will go virtual in the virus era. Will any justice attend? Plus, a brief look at the many Trump-related petitions that have piled up. Scroll down for links about Ginsburg, and the Trump nominee, Amy Coney Barrett, to fill the vacancy. Republicans who shunned an election-year hearing and vote on Obama nominee Merrick Garland are moving at lightning speed to confirm Trump's pick.

Thanks for reading, and your feedback is welcome and appreciated. Contact Marcia Coyle at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MarciaCoyle. Tony Mauro can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter @Tonymauro.