This morning the Court announced orders from its March 2 Conference. The Court did not grant certiorari in any new cases, nor did it invite the Solicitor General to file briefs expressing the views of the United States. In two cases, John Crane, Inc. v. Atwell (No. 10-272) and Griffin Wheel Co. v. Harris (No. 10-520), the Court granted the petitions, vacated the decisions below, and remanded for further consideration in light of last week’s decision in Kurns v. Railroad Friction Products.
The Court also issued one decision today. Justice Kagan announced the decision in Martel v. Clair for a unanimous Court. The Court first held that when evaluating motions to substitute counsel in capital cases under 18 U. S. C. § 3599, courts should employ the same “interests of justice” standard that applies in non-capital cases under 18 U.S.C. § 3006A. The Court then held that the district court had not abused its discretion when, using the “interests of justice” standard, it denied Clair’s second request for new counsel. The Court therefore held that the Ninth Circuit erred in overturning that denial, and so it reversed the Ninth Circuit’s decision and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.
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