Will the Supreme Court consider the gun ban in Washington D.C.? And if it doesn’t agree to review the case soon, will the decision come down after the 2008 elections?

The gist:

Later this month, the Supreme Court will decide whether to review the circuit court’s blockbuster opinion in Parker vs. District of Columbia, the first federal appellate opinion to overturn a gun control law on the ground that the 2nd Amendment protects the rights of individuals. If the high court takes the case, oral arguments likely will be held this spring, with a decision expected before June 30.

But, I’m told, there’s a chance that the case may get shifted to later in the schedule, with oral arguments sometime in the fall before the election, and the decision probably coming after Election Day.

When the decision comes down, no matter how the court decides, it’s almost certain to trigger a flurry of lawmakers introducing legislation designed to be in line with the decision, lawsuits, op-eds calling for action, etc.

If you think the issue of gun control is a loser for the Democrats – particularly if staunch gun control backer Hillary Clinton is the nominee – is it better to have that post-decision flurry of activity breaking out in the middle of campaign season? Or is it better to have the Court still mulling the issue as voters go to the ballot box, with the question of who nominates the next justices fresh in their mind?