When the Republicans appealed the three-day extension for counting ballots, the Supreme Court upheld the state decision on a 4-4 tie vote. It was a week before Justice Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s third appointee, won confirmation. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. voted with the three liberals while four conservatives voted to grant the GOP appeal.

The justices heard arguments on Wednesday in a long-simmering dispute between San Francisco and the E.P.A. over regulation of water pollution.

The Supreme Court appeared ready in oral arguments Wednesday to restrict the EPA’s ability to set broad water quality standards for sewage and other systems as part of a challenge from San Francisco to the agency’s powers under the Clean Water Act.

Liberal Supreme Court justices on Wednesday strongly criticized San Francisco‘s challenge to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‘s authority to set generic limitations for wastewater discharges under the Clean Water Act.