It has been 17 years since John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo, known as the “D.C. snipers,” shot and killed 12 people and injured six more. The Washington, D.C., area was paralyzed with fear until the then-42-year-old Muhammad and Malvo, who was then 17, were arrested at a Maryland rest stop. Muhammad was sentenced… Read More
Justices weigh appointments dispute – and nature of Puerto Rico oversight board
The Supreme Court heard oral argument this morning in a dispute over the validity of appointments to a board created by Congress to bring financial stability back to Puerto Rico. With billions of dollars potentially at stake, the courtroom was packed with spectators, many of whom had flown in from Puerto Rico. And although the… Read More
No new grants today
This morning the Supreme Court issued orders from last week’s private conference. The justices did not add any new cases to their docket for this term. The justices did not act on one of the most closely watched petitions for review that they considered last week, involving a challenge to the constitutionality of an Indiana… Read More
Justices to consider life-without-parole sentences for juveniles in D.C. sniper case
In the fall of 2002, John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo terrorized the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Dubbed the “D.C. snipers,” Muhammad and Malvo randomly shot and killed 12 people and badly injured six more. Muhammad was sentenced to death and executed in 2009, while Malvo – who was only 17 at the time… Read More
Justices to hear argument in appointments clause dispute arising from Puerto Rico debt crisis
The Constitution’s appointments clause provides that the president nominates, but the Senate must confirm, principal “Officers of the United States,” although Congress can also give the president the power to appoint “inferior Officers.” Next week the Supreme Court will hear oral argument on the scope of both this clause and the ancient remedy known as… Read More
Justices divided on federal protections for LGBT employees (UPDATED)
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars employment discrimination “because of … sex.” This morning, in a packed courtroom, the Supreme Court heard oral argument on whether Title VII protects gay, lesbian and transgender employees. Because fewer than half of the 50 states specifically bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender… Read More
Justices weigh constitutionality of non-unanimous jury rule
Last year Louisiana repealed a state law that allowed a criminal defendant (except in capital cases) to be convicted without a unanimous verdict from the jury. But the change only applied to crimes committed on or after January 1, 2019. So this afternoon the Supreme Court heard oral argument in a challenge to the constitutionality… Read More
Justices open new term with questions and concerns about insanity defense
In 2009, James Kahler shot and killed four members of his family – his two teenaged daughters, his ex-wife and her grandmother – during the weekend after Thanksgiving. Kahler’s young son was at the scene but ran out the back door and was not physically harmed. When Kahler’s case went to trial, an expert testified… Read More
New York gun case to move forward
This morning the Supreme Court issued more orders from last week’s private conference – the first regularly scheduled conference since the end of June. As expected, the justices did not add any more cases to their merits docket for the term, but they did deny review in over 1,000 cases. One of the most closely… Read More
Justices grant new cases for upcoming term, will tackle Louisiana abortion dispute
The Supreme Court was already scheduled to take on a range of high-profile and potentially controversial issues in the next few months, including federal protection for LGBT employees, the Trump administration’s decision to end the program known as DACA, and gun rights. This morning the Supreme Court’s new term, which starts next Monday, became even… Read More