Good morning and welcome to Supreme Court Brief! The justices are back on the bench this morning. Three of the term's closely-watched cases will be heard in this argument session. We have a look at the lawyers and cases in Week 1. An interesting amicus brief in one of the three cases, United States v. Texas, offers a close look at Texas' litigating strategy. And scroll down as fallout continues for the high court in the wake of the New York Times story of another leak and an influence scheme.

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U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, left and Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone. U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, left, and Texas Solicitor General Judd Stone, right. Courtesy photo/AP