Author: Richard Wolf, USA TODAY

Roberts notably avoided any mention of the judiciary’s other historic challenges caused in large part by President Donald Trump, his frequent nemesis.

The former federal judge and law school professor joined the court amid a pandemic, a hotly contested election and an avalanche of high-profile cases.

In four cases, the high court indicated states may not impose stricter standards on houses of worship than they do on most commercial establishments.

The justices’ action clears the way for electors to convene Monday and confirm that President-elect Joe Biden will be nation’s 46th president.

The president did not present evidence of fraud. To back up his request, he cited partisan polls purporting to show Americans distrust the election.

The court’s action represented the latest in a string of stinging judicial opinions that have left the president defeated politically and legally.

The justices did not indicate whether they believe President Trump has the right to exclude as many as 11 million people from the population base.

The president seeks to exclude undocumented immigrants from census calculations used to apportion House seats, electoral votes and federal funds.

It was a reversal from earlier actions taken by the high court in response to state restrictions on organized religion during the pandemic.

The early completion date likely will result in undercounting racial and ethnic minorities and others in hard-to-reach communities.