The Supreme Court has begun its new term with an argument over an endangered frog that appears to divide the four conservative and four liberal justices.
The high court is shorthanded because Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination remains in limbo while the FBI investigates allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
The case argued Monday morning concerns a dispute over Louisiana timberland that was designated as critical habitat for the dusky gopher frog, even though the frog is only found in Mississippi.
The conservative justices appeared sympathetic to the Weyerhaeuser Co. timber company that sued over the designation. The liberals seemed inclined to back the government.
The justices could hold onto the case and order a new round of arguments once the bench is full, or resolve the case narrowly.
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