The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday (March 26) in a sweeping rejection of powers in the presidency ruled that neither the World Court nor President Bush can interfere with Texas regarding that states’ enforcement of its own criminal laws. The justices in their 6-3 decision, Medellin v. Texas (06-984), ruled that neither an opinion by the World Court nor a directive from the President amounts to “enforceable federal law” that requires compliance by the State of Texas.
Sources for this posting:
Justices: Racially Based Peremptory Challenges Reverse Murder Conviction SNYDER V. LOUISIANA
(U.S. Supreme Ct., March 19, 2008) – A Louisiana conviction for first-degree murder and death sentence is reversed where the trial judge committed clear error in its ruling on an objection to the prosecution’s strike of a black juror during voir dire, in violation of Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U. S. 79.
The New York Law Journal has reported that Melvyn Weiss has agreed to plead guilty to a racketeering charge for participating in a scheme to pay kickbacks to lead plaintiffs in shareholder suits.
Mr. Weiss, a famed securities class action lawyer, was one of the co-founders of the law firm Milberg Weiss.
“more than $1 million in alleged prostitution proceeds laundered through two front accounts.
For additional information click on links below to the Press Release and the Complaint
Argued December 4, 2007 – Decided February 20, 2008
…”Of Wednesday’s pre-emption cases, Riegel v. Medtronic may have the broadest impact. The Court ruled against the estate of Charles Riegel, who died after a catheter made by Medtronic malfunctioned during heart surgery.”
“Riegel sued in federal court, invoking New York state common law to argue for liability and damages. Like lower courts, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal Medical Device Amendments of 1976 specifically preclude states from imposing their own requirements on the makers of federally regulated medical devices.”
Decision Date: February 20, 2008:
DANFORTH v. MINNESOTA CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF MINNESOTA
No. 06-8273. Argued October 31, 2007-Decided February 20, 2008
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Chock Full O’Nuts Corp., plaintiff v. NRP LLC I, defendant-appellant
Ex-NYPD Commissioner Indicted on Corruption, Tax Charges
UNITED STATES V. BERNARD KERIK
“(U.S. Dist. Ct., S.D.N.Y., Nov. 9, 2007) – Former New York City Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik was indicted by a federal grand jury on a variety of corruption charges relating to his former position under ex-NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, as well as personal tax evasion charges and failure to pay social security and employment taxes for his children’s nanny”
Index of decisions released October 4, 2007:
Decisions Released October 4, 2007
Criminal Law Library Blog