Newsweek said Clarence Thomas may have a fresh opportunity to reverse a Supreme Court ruling he opposed 22 years ago.

The case centres on a student petition that urges the court to overturn a decision barring public aid for religious studies.

That petition gives the court a chance to revisit the prior judgment.

A separate but related matter involving Virginia military chaplains underscores ongoing legal tensions over freedom of religion and state funding.

The developments indicate the court may reconsider a long-established ruling on the line between state support and religious education.