Today at the Court

For the second day this week, the Court will release one or more opinions this morning starting at 10.  We will launch our LiveBlog around 9:50 a.m.  After opinions, the Justices will hear oral argument in two cases:

~10 a.m. — In Carachuri-Rosendo v. Holder (09-60), the Court will consider whether a person convicted under state law for simple drug possession (a federal misdemeanor) has been “convicted” of an “aggravated felony” on the theory that he could have been prosecuted for recidivist simple possession (a federal felony).  Anna Christensen of Howe & Russell previews the case below.

~11 a.m. — In Robertson v. U.S. ex rel. Watson (08-6261), the question presented is whether an action for criminal contempt in a congressionally created court may constitutionally be brought in the name of a private person, rather than in the name of the United States.  Harvard Law School student James Bickford discusses the case here.