[Gil4]

If only three other Justices wanted to entertain the possibility that the status quo could be reversed, I'd say that doesn't look good for the states.

Is it possible they saw a likely 4-4 deadlock and decided to wait until a 9th justice was added? (I don't know if they make calculations like that, but 4-4 would leave the status quo.)

[jjotto]

This is just approval for the cases to be heard sometime in the future. No ruling for a long time.

Four justices must agree to have the cases before the Supreme Court. If there was not a fourth before Kavanaugh joined, it’s a bad sign.