Monday status conference: Confronting the Confrontation Clause
As the end of the term nears, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to deliver more opinions this morning. The longest outstanding remaining case could have a wide impact on prosecutors across the country: Melendez-Diaz v. Massachusetts.
In that case, the Court is considering whether state forensic lab reports prepared for use in criminal cases are testimonial evidence subject to the demands of the Confrontation Clause.
The defendant in the case argues that they are indeed and that as a result, prosecutors are required to call lab analysts to testify at trial during their case-in-chief. But the state argues otherwise, noting that prosecutors frequently rely on such reports in drunk-driving, fingerprint, DNA, drug and firearm trials.
Whatever opinions the Court releases today, we’ll bring you updates on this blog and at Lawyers USA online.
Meanwhile,
No longer in the club: Fighting critics claim questions about bias, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor resigned her membership in a women-only group Friday. (WSJ)
Change for a bill: President Obama is acknowledging that he has failed to live up to one campaign promise: always waiting at least 5 days before signing any legislation in order to allow for public input. So far, Obama has rarely waited that long. (NYT)
Just impeachy: The House voted overwhelmingly to impeach imprisoned Texas federal District Judge Samuel Kent. A trial is expected soon. (ABA Journal)
Tobacco lobbyists spent far less cash fighting
