The new Supreme Court term begins with observers asking if the addition of Samuel Alito and John Roberts will lead to a string of conservative reversals of earlier opinions.

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The justices are meeting in private Friday to discuss adding new cases for the term that begins in the fall.

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The government contends that Chavez's new term begins automatically because he was re-elected and that the inauguration could be held later.

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Venezuela's Supreme Court backed the government's position, ruling that Chavez begins a new term on Thursday and can be sworn in later before the court.

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On Wednesday, Venezuela's Supreme Court backed the government's position, ruling that Chavez begins a new term on Thursday and can be sworn in later before the court.

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The new case is likely to be heard in the Supreme Court's next term, which begins Oct. 7, and decided before July 2014.

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