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Lots of criminal technicalities in SCOTUS cert grants

By Douglas A. Berman

As detailed here at SCOTUSblog, the Supreme Court granted cert in seven cases today, three of which involve criminal justices issues.  In my view, the criminal cases granted today do not have any blockbuster potential, although I find intriguing that a grant in one case indirectly brings state clemency issues before the court.  Here is the SCOTUSblog account of this case from the Sixth Circuit to be argued next Term before the Justices:Docket: 07-8521Case name: Harbison v. Bell Issue: Whether the Terrorist Death Penalty Enhancement Act of 2005 provides prisoners sentenced under state law the right to federally appointed and funded counsel to pursue clemency under state law, and whether a district court?s denial of such a request may be appealed without a certificate of appealability.continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on June 23, 2008 (boomark / email).