How Appealing



Wednesday, February 22, 2017

“Justice Sotomayor Takes Aim at Lethal Injection: In a striking dissent, the justice slams the ‘horrifying deaths’ that result from ‘our most cruel experiment yet.'” Mark Joseph Stern has this jurisprudence essay online at Slate.

Posted at 1:45 PM by Howard Bashman



“Appeals Court Upholds Maryland Ban on Military-Style Weapons; Court also allows 10-round limit on gun magazines”: Joe Palazzolo of The Wall Street Journal has this report.

Cristian Farias of The Huffington Post reports that “‘Military-Style’ Firearms Aren’t Protected By Second Amendment, Court Rules; An appeals court upheld a Maryland ban on a wide range of popular semiautomatic weapons.”

And Reuters reports that “U.S. appeals court upholds Maryland’s ban on assault rifles.”

My earlier coverage of yesterday’s en banc Fourth Circuit ruling can be accessed here.

Posted at 1:40 PM by Howard Bashman



“Supreme Court says race-based testimony discriminated against black death row inmate”: Robert Barnes of The Washington Post has this report.

David G. Savage of The Los Angeles Times reports that “Supreme Court rejects use of ‘racial stereotypes’ in death penalty cases.”

Mike Ward of The Houston Chronicle reports that “Supreme Court grants Texas death row inmate Duane Buck new hearing.”

Jordan Rudner of The Dallas Morning News reports that “Texan whose jury was told blacks more likely to be dangerous can appeal, Supreme Court rules.”

Ariane de Vogue of CNN.com reports that “Supreme Court rules in favor of death row inmate.”

And Jolie McCullough of The Texas Tribune reports that “U.S. Supreme Court rules in favor of Texas death row inmate; The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Texas death row inmate Duane Buck, agreeing that his case was prejudiced by an expert trial witness who claimed Buck was more likely to be a future danger because he is black.”

Posted at 1:32 PM by Howard Bashman



“Ivanka Trump Beats Her Father to Supreme Court”: Jess Bravin has this post at WSJ.com’s “Washington Wire” blog.

Posted at 11:52 AM by Howard Bashman



Access today’s rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court in argued cases: The Court today issued rulings in three argued cases.

1. Justice Elena Kagan delivered the opinion of the Court in Fry v. Napoleon Community Schools, No. 15-497. Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr. issued an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Clarence Thomas joined. You can access the oral argument via this link.

2. Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered the opinion of the Court in Life Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp., No. 14-1538. Justice Alito issued an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Thomas joined. Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. did not participate in the ruling. You can access the oral argument via this link.

3. And Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court in Buck v. Davis, No. 15-8049. Justice Thomas issued a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Alito joined. You can access the oral argument via this link.

In early news coverage, The Associated Press reports that “Supreme Court orders new hearing for black Texas inmate“; “Justices side with Michigan girl in dispute over service dog“; and “High court ruling limits international reach of patent laws.”

From Reuters, Lawrence Hurley Reports that “U.S. top court backs Texas death row inmate in race case.” And Andrew Chung reports that “U.S. top court sides with disabled girl in dispute over service dog” and “Thermo Fisher did not infringe genetic-testing patent, U.S. top court says.”

And Richard Wolf of USA Today reports that “Supreme Court blocks death sentence over racial bias” and “Supreme Court issues Wonder-ful ruling for disabled girl, service dog.”

Posted at 10:02 AM by Howard Bashman