The Week Ahead

On Monday, the Court will release orders from the Justices’ private conference last Friday. We will provide a link to the orders list as soon as it is available. Following the release of orders, the Court will hear argument in:

• District Attorney’s Office for the Third Judicial District, et al. v. Osborne (08-6) -  right to obtain DNA evidence
• Atlantic Sounding Co., Inc., et al. v. Townsend (08-214) -  seaman’s right to punitive damages

On Tuesday, the Court may issue one or more opinions in pending cases. Following the announcement of any rulings, the Court will hear argument in:

• Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Company, Inc., et al. (08-22) – duty of elected judge to disqualify from case in which a major campaign donor has an interest
• Arthur Andersen LLP, et al. v. Carlisle, et al. (08-146) – right to appeal a District Court’s refusal to stay a pending case during arbitration

On Wednesday, the Court may issue one or more opinions in pending cases. Following the announcement of any rulings, the Court will hear argument in:

• Abuelhawa v. United States (08-192) – use of telephone as factor in “facilitation” of felony of distributing illegal drugs, when the purchase is for personal use
• Dean v. United States (08-5274) – proof needed for ten-year mandatory minimum sentence for discharging a gun during a violent crime

The Justices will hold a private conference on Friday, orders from which could be released that afternoon. To view our list of petition’s to watch at Friday’s conference, click here.

No merits briefs are due this week.