Today at the Supreme Court | 10.14.08

At 10 a.m., the Court will release orders from the Justices’ private conference last Friday. We will link to the orders list as soon as it is available.

Following the release of orders, the Court will hear argument in Bartlett v. Strickland (07-689), on whether a racial minority group that makes up less than 50 percent of a proposed legislative district can state a vote dilution claim under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. North Carolina Solicitor General Christopher Browning, Jr., will argue for the petitioner, and Carl Thurman, III, of Wilmington, N.C., and Daryl Joseffer of the Solicitor General’s office will argue for the respondent.

At 11 a.m., the Court will hear argument in Pearson v. Callahan (07-751), on whether police officers were entitled to qualified immunity for conducting a warrantless search based on the signal of an undercover informant who had previously entered the home, and whether the Court should overrule its decision in Saucier v. Katz (2001). Peter Stirba of Salt Lake City and Deputy Solicitor General Malcolm Stewart will argue for the petitioner, and Theodore Metzler of Washington, D.C., will argue for the respondent.

At 1 p.m., the Court will hear argument in Oregon v. Ice (07-901), on whether the Sixth Amendment requires that facts necessary to impose consecutive sentences (other than prior convictions) be found by a jury or admitted by the defendant. Oregon Solicitor General Mary Williams will argue for the petitioner, and Senior Deputy Public Defender Ernest Lannet will argue for the respondent.

We will provide links to the transcripts of the arguments as soon as they are available.