Federal Judiciary

The week ahead

By Akin Gump Supreme Court Practice Group

The Court returns from its recess today and is expected to release orders at 10 a.m.  The Justices meet for a private conference on Friday.  Six oral arguments are scheduled for this week, as follows:

Monday, February 22:

• Astrue v. Ratliff (08-1322) ? whether attorneys? fees award under the Equal Access to Justice Act can be used to cover a separate debt owed to the government by the prevailing party
• Lewis v. City of Chicago (08-974) — deadline for complaint about the use of an employment test that has a stronger negative impact on minority applicants [Disclosure: Howe & Russell filed an amicus brief in support of the petitioners.]

Tuesday, February 23:

• Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project (08-1498; 09-89) ? constitutionality of law prohibiting ?material support? to designated terrorist groups
• United States v. O?Brien and Burgess (08-1569) ? trial findings on a weapon that triggers a higher criminal sentence

Wednesday, February 24:

• Carr v. United States (08-1301) ? Ex Post Facto Clause application to sex offender registration law
• United States v. Marcus (08-1341) ? validity of conviction based in part on conduct that occurred before criminal law enacted

The schedule of merits briefs due this week follows the jump.

Monday, February 22:

• Skilling v. United States (08-1394) – petitioner’s reply

Tuesday, February 23:

• Dolan v. United States (09-367) – petitioner’s brief

Wednesday, February 24:

• Health Care Service Corp. v. Pollitt (09-38) – petitioner’s reply

Thursday, Feb. 25:

• Krupski v. Costa Crociere (09-337) – petitioner’s brief
• Hardt v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co. (09-448) – petitioner’s brief
• Monsanto Company v. Geertson Seed Farms (09-475) – petitioners’s brief
• Rent-A-Center v. Jackson (09-497) – petitioner’s brief
• Doe v. Reed (09-559) – petitioners’ brief

Friday, February 26:

• Hamilton, Chapter 13 Trustee v. Lanning (08-998) – petitioner’s reply
• Levin v. Commerce Energy, Inc. (09-223) – petitioner’s reply

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on February 22, 2010 (boomark / email).