Federal Judiciary

The Week Ahead

By Akin Gump Supreme Court Practice Group

On Monday, the Court is scheduled to hear argument in Plains Commerce Bank v. Long Family Land & Cattle (07-411), involving authority of Indian tribal courts, and Bridge v. Phoenix Bond & Indemnity (07-210), involving standards for causation in civil RICO claims. In advance of the arguments, the Court is expected to release orders from the Justices’ private conference last Friday.

On Tuesday, the Court is scheduled to hear argument in Greenlaw v. United States (07-330), involving appellate judges’ ability to increase sentences sua sponte, and Irizarry v. United States (06-7517), involving judges’ duty to notify parties before departing from the sentencing guidelines. In advance of the arguments, the Justices may release one or more opinions.

On Wednesday, the Court is scheduled to hear argument in Kennedy v. Louisiana (07-343), involving the constitutionality of imposing the death penalty for child rape, and Taylor v. Sturgell (07-371), involving the theory “virtual representation” in civil suits. In advance of the arguments, the Justices may release one or more opinions.

(Links above direct to case pages on SCOTUSwiki.)

On Friday, the Justices are scheduled to hold a private conference, orders from which are expected to be released the following Monday. To view our list of petitions to watch at the conference, click here.

No merits briefs are due this week.

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on April 13, 2008 (boomark / email).