Federal Judiciary

Busy time for S.G.’s office

By Akin Gump Supreme Court Practice Group

The U.S. Solicitor General’s office, speaking for the federal government, will join in nine of the ten arguments the Supreme Court has scheduled for the sitting that begins on April 20.  The government will be taking part as an amicus in six of those cases, will be sharing argument time on its side in two others, and appearing alone on its side in one other, according to orders issued by the Court Friday.   The only argument in which the government will not participate is Bobby v. Bies (08-598), a double jeopardy case to be heard on April 27.

The Court indicated it has not yet been told whether the new Solicitor General, Elena Kagan, will argue any of the April cases.  Some news accounts have speculated that she would represent the government in the argument in the case testing the constitutionality of the extension of Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act — Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District v. Holder (08-322). That case is now set for hearing on the last argument day of the Term, April 29.  In that case, the federal government lawyer will be dividing time with an attorney representing minority Texas voters and local Texas branches of the NAACP.

The Court’s orders Friday on argument arrangements are here.  Further orders on actions taken  at Friday’s Conference are expected to be released at 10 a.m. Monday.

Full post as published by SCOTUSBLOG on April 03, 2009 (boomark / email).