Today at the Supreme Court | 1.7.08

At 10 a.m., the Court is scheduled to hear argument in Baze v. Rees (07-5439), asking whether the combination of drugs used in Kentucky’s lethal injection protocol amounts to cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the Eighth Amendment. Donald Verrilli, Jr., of Washington, D.C., will argue for the petitioner, and Roy Englert, Jr., of Washington D.C. and Gregory Garre of the Solicitor General’s office will argue for the respondent.

At 11 a.m, the Court is scheduled to hear argument in Dada v. Mukasey (06-1181), asking whether an alien’s timely filing of a motion to reopen removal proceedings should automatically toll a previously granted order of voluntary departure. Christopher Meade of New York will argue for the petitioner, and Edwin Kneedler of the Solicitor General’s office will argue for the respondent.

In advance of the arguments, the Court is expected to release the remaining orders from its private conference last Friday. Following the argument in Baze, the Court is expected to release audio from the oral argument.