Federal Judiciary

The week ahead

By Akin Gump Supreme Court Practice Group

Welcome back from the holiday recess!  This week the Court will release opinions on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

The Court will also hear oral arguments in the following cases:

Monday, Jan. 11:

1. Alabama v. North Carolina (132 Original) ? enforcement of a regional pact on disposal of radioactive wastes
2. Briscoe v. Virginia (07-11191) ? Confrontation Clause, Melendez-Diaz

Tuesday, Jan. 12:

1. United States v. Comstock (08-1224) ? the constitutionality of continued imprisonment of a sex offender, after that individual has completed serving a prison sentence for the crimes
2. Abbott v. Abbott (08-645) ? scope of “rights of custody” for purposes of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction

Wednesday, Jan. 13:

1. American Needle Inc. v. NFL (08-661) ? the National Football League, its teams, and their licensing agent?s function as a single entity for purposes of the Sherman Act
2. Jerman v. Carlisle, McNellie, Rini, Kramer & Ulrich LPA (08-1200) ? application of ?bona fide error? defense of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to mistakes of law

The next private conference of the Justices is scheduled for this Friday, January 15.

Finally, merits briefs in the cases listed below the jump are due this week.

Tuesday, Jan. 12:

• United States v. Marcus (08-1341) – respondent’s brief

Wednesday, Jan. 13:

• Berghuis v. Smith (08-1402) - petitioner’s reply
• Samantar v. Bashe Abdi Yousuf (08-1555) – respondent’s brief

Thursday, Jan. 14:

• United States v. O?Brien and Burgess (08-1569) - respondents’ brief

Friday, Jan. 15:

• Lewis v. City of Chicago (08-974) – respondent’s brief
• Carr v. United States (08-1301) – respondent’s brief
• Hui v. Castaneda (08-1529; 08-1547) – respondent’s brief

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on January 11, 2010 (boomark / email).