How Appealing



Tuesday, May 31, 2011

“Justices Block Suit Over Use of Material Witness Law”: Adam Liptak of The New York Times has this news update.

Robert Barnes of The Washington Post has a news update headlined “Supreme Court: Ashcroft not liable in detention of American Muslim post-9/11.”

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times has a news update headlined “Supreme Court tosses out lawsuit accusing John Ashcroft of misusing his power; By an 8-0 vote, the Supreme Court says former Attorney General John Ashcroft did not clearly violate the 4th Amendment right against unreasonable searches and seizures; The case stemmed from the arrest of Abdullah al Kidd, who was held for two weeks, ostensibly so he could serve as a witness in a terrorism trial in Idaho.”

Joan Biskupic of USA Today has a news update headlined “Supreme Court rejects lawsuit against Ashcroft.”

The Washington Times has a news update headlined “Supreme Court: Ashcroft can’t be sued over arrest.”

Michael Doyle of McClatchy Newspapers reports that “Supreme Court rules Ashcroft can’t be sued in al Kidd case.”

And Warren Richey of The Christian Science Monitor has an article headlined “Supreme Court: US Muslim cannot sue Ashcroft for 2003 detention ordeal; Former Attorney General John Ashcroft is entitled to qualified immunity and cannot be sued by an American Muslim detained under harsh conditions in 2003, the US Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.”

Posted at 6:02 PM by Howard Bashman



Access online today’s Order List and decisions in argued cases of the U.S. Supreme Court: You can access today’s Order List at this link. The Court granted review in one case and requested the views of the Solicitor General’s office in two cases.

In addition, the Court today issued two decisions in argued cases.

1. Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. delivered the opinion of the Court in Global-Tech Appliances, Inc. v. SEB S.A., No. 10-6. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy issued a dissenting opinion. You can access the oral argument via this link.

2. And Justice Antonin Scalia delivered the opinion of the Court in Ashcroft v. al-Kidd, No. 10-98. Justice Kennedy filed a concurring opinion, in which Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor joined in part. Justice Ginsburg issued an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Justices Breyer and Sotomayor joined. And Justice Sotomayor issued an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Justices Ginsburg and Breyer joined. Justice Elena Kagan did not take part in the ruling. You can access the oral argument via this link.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press has reports headlined “High court throws out lawsuit against Ashcroft“; “Court to clarify witness identification rules“; “High court turns down new appeal from Conrad Black” and “High court lifts hold on Texan’s execution.”

Posted at 10:02 AM by Howard Bashman



“Studying the Frequency of Redaction Failures in PACER”: Timothy B. Lee had this post last week at the “Freedom to Tinker” blog hosted by Princeton’s Center for Information Technology Policy (via “Law News Now” blog).

Posted at 9:08 AM by Howard Bashman



“MacAskill in new attack on Supreme Court rulings”: The Herald of Scotland today contains an article that begins, “Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said UK Supreme Court judges should not interfere in Scots Law, when their knowledge of it was ‘limited to a visit to the Edinburgh Festival.'”

And BBC News reports that “Scottish government moves against UK Supreme Court.”

Posted at 9:05 AM by Howard Bashman



“Gov. Christie’s Supreme Court nominee gets confirmation hearing following extended standoff”: This article appears today in The Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger.

Posted at 9:00 AM by Howard Bashman