We are nearing the end of September and that means the new Supreme Court term is right around the corner! Every year, the first Monday in October marks the beginning of a new term. This year is no exception: the new term begins on Monday, October 3rd. As of now, the Court has agreed to hear 31 cases. Only three of those are from state courts and five are from the Ninth Circuit. Criminal law dominates the beginning of the term with every case scheduled to be heard in October at least touching on the subject.
The first case set for argument, Bravo-Fernandez v. United States, discusses double jeopardy in a political bribery case. In Moore v. Texas, not yet set for oral argument, the Court will confront mental capacity and the death penalty. Pena- Rodriguez v. Colorado, set to be heard in October, deals with alleged racial bias in the jury room. Specifically, can an evidentiary rule preventing a juror from testifying about statements made during deliberations, when offered to challenge the jury’s verdict, bar evidence of racial bias offered to prove a violation of the defendant’s Sixth Amendment right to an impartial jury? We will find out the answer to this and many other pressing legal questions as the new Supreme Court term gets underway!
Besides the SCOTUS Blog, other places to go for Supreme Court information include the Supreme Court’s website, where you can listen to oral arguments, the ABA’s Preview of United States Supreme Court Cases, where you can find the parties’ briefs, and Supreme Podcast.