“With Death Penalty Abolished, Death Row Inmates Questioning Why They Still Face Death; Law’s Exclusion Of Some Defendants Challenged On Several Fronts”: In Monday’s edition of The Hartford Courant, Alaine Griffin will have an article that begins, “The legislative repeal of Connecticut’s death penalty is reverberating through the judicial system, including in an appeal brought by a death row inmate that the state Supreme Court is expected to rule on in part this week.”
“Kline wants 8th justice off panel deciding his discipline”: The Capital-Journal of Topeka, Kansas has a news update that begins, “Former Attorney General Phill Kline has ‘suggested’ that one of only two remaining Kansas Supreme Court justices recuse himself from hearing Kline’s pending disciplinary case some time this fall. On May 18, five of the seven justices recused themselves from the Kline case.”
The newspaper has posted the recusal request at this link.
“Mining for Influence in Montana”: In Monday’s edition of The New York Times, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer will have an op-ed that begins, “In Montana’s frontier days, we learned a hard lesson about money in politics, one that’s shaped our campaign-finance laws for a century and made our political system one of the country’s most transparent. Those laws, and our political way of life, are now being threatened by the Supreme Court — which is why I recently signed a petition for a federal constitutional amendment to ban corporate money from all elections.”
“SB 1070 Supreme Court ruling may impact U.S. races; Decision could move key voting blocs”: Today’s edition of The Arizona Republic contains an article that begins, “One way or another, the U.S. Supreme Court’s looming decision on Arizona’s immigration law is expected to affect the presidential race and down-ticket battles in Arizona and other states.”
Access online Seventh Circuit Chief Judge Frank H. Easterbrook‘s remarks at Swarthmore College’s Commencement 2012: You can view the remarks (video plus transcript) via this link.
You can also access “President Chopp’s Charge to Frank H. Easterbrook ’70.”
“U.S. Circuit Court urged to toss wiretap ruling”: In Saturday’s edition of The San Francisco Chronicle, Bob Egelko had this article.
My earlier coverage of Friday’s Ninth Circuit oral argument appears at this link.
“Court rules OKs gun shows at county fairgrounds”: Bob Egelko has this article Saturday in The San Francisco Chronicle.
And at “SCOTUSblog,” Lyle Denniston has a post titled “Nordyke gun case nears end.”
“Jailed ex-Guantanamo detainee appeals life sentence”: Reuters has this report.
“Autopsy photos: balancing privacy against public interest.” Ken Paulson has this essay online at the First Amendment Center.
“Under the U.S. Supreme Court: ‘Influence, gratitude, access not corruption.'” UPI has a report that begins, “The U.S. Supreme Court will go behind closed doors June 14 to decide what to do about Montana’s cheeky slap at Citizens United vs. FEC, the high court ruling that opened the gates to hundreds of millions in corporate independent political expenditures.”
“New super PAC gets involved in Supreme Court race to back Newby”: Yesterday’s edition of The News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina contained an article that begins, “One of the most consequential elections in North Carolina this year has received little attention so far: the lone seat on the N.C. Supreme Court that is up for a vote, held by Justice Paul M. Newby. But the campaign pitting Newby against Democratic challenger Sam Ervin IV, a judge on the state Court of Appeals, should start drawing more attention as plans for a new super PAC begin ramping up fundraising on behalf of the incumbent. Key conservatives have formed the N.C. Judicial Coalition, a tax-exempt group that can take advantage of the recent ability to raise and spend unlimited money to support or oppose candidates.”
