U.S. Supreme Court Case Commentaries

Affirming the Commerce Element in Hobbs Act Robberies Targeting Drug Dealers

Date: Jun 21, 2016

Affirming the Commerce Element in Hobbs Act Robberies Targeting Drug Dealers Introduction In David Anthony Taylor v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 2074 (2016), the United States Supreme Court addressed...

Mandatory Application of the Rule of Two in Federal Contracting: Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States

Date: Jun 17, 2016

Mandatory Application of the Rule of Two in Federal Contracting: Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States Introduction Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States, 136 S. Ct. 1969 (2016),...

Kirtsaeng v. Wiley: Reinforcing Objective Reasonableness in Attorney's Fees under 17 U.S.C. §505

Date: Jun 17, 2016

Kirtsaeng v. Wiley: Reinforcing Objective Reasonableness in Attorney's Fees under 17 U.S.C. §505 Introduction The case of Supap Kirtsaeng, DBA Bluechristine99, v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. addresses...

Implied False Certification under the False Claims Act: Insights from Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States

Date: Jun 17, 2016

Implied False Certification under the False Claims Act: Insights from Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States Introduction The Supreme Court case Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United...

Supreme Court Revises Standards for Enhanced Damages in Patent Infringement: Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc. and Stryker Corporation et al.

Date: Jun 14, 2016

Supreme Court Revises Standards for Enhanced Damages in Patent Infringement: Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc. and Stryker Corporation et al. Introduction The United States Supreme...

Puerto Rico as a "State" Under the Bankruptcy Code: Comprehensive Analysis of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust

Date: Jun 14, 2016

Puerto Rico as a "State" Under the Bankruptcy Code: Comprehensive Analysis of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico v. Franklin California Tax-Free Trust Introduction The case of Commonwealth of Puerto Rico,...

Use of Tribal-Court Convictions as Predicate Offenses in Federal Domestic Violence Prosecutions

Date: Jun 14, 2016

Use of Tribal-Court Convictions as Predicate Offenses in Federal Domestic Violence Prosecutions Introduction In the landmark case United States v. Michael Bryant, Jr., the U.S. Supreme Court...

Unified Sovereignty in Double Jeopardy: Puerto Rico and the Federal Government

Date: Jun 10, 2016

Unified Sovereignty in Double Jeopardy: Puerto Rico and the Federal Government Introduction Commonwealth of Puerto Rico v. Luis M. Sanchez Valle, et al. (136 S. Ct. 1863, 2016) is a pivotal U.S....

Inherent Authority to Reempanel Discharged Juries: Rocky Dietz v. Hillary Bouldin

Date: Jun 10, 2016

Inherent Authority to Reempanel Discharged Juries: Rocky Dietz v. Hillary Bouldin Introduction Rocky Dietz v. Hillary Bouldin is a pivotal case adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court on June...

Williams v. Pennsylvania: Strengthening Judicial Recusal Standards for Former Prosecutors under Due Process

Date: Jun 10, 2016

Williams v. Pennsylvania: Strengthening Judicial Recusal Standards for Former Prosecutors under Due Process Introduction Terrance Williams v. Pennsylvania, 136 S. Ct. 1899 (2016), is a landmark...

Judgment Bar Provision Does Not Apply to FTCA Exceptions: Simmons v. Himmelreich

Date: Jun 7, 2016

Judgment Bar Provision Does Not Apply to FTCA Exceptions: Simmons v. Himmelreich Introduction Simmons v. Himmelreich is a significant Supreme Court case decided on June 6, 2016, addressing the...

Mandatory Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Under PLRA: Michael Ross v. Shaidon Blake

Date: Jun 7, 2016

Mandatory Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Under PLRA: Michael Ross v. Shaidon Blake Introduction Michael Ross v. Shaidon Blake is a landmark case adjudicated by the United States Supreme Court...

Defendants' Right to Inform Juries of Parole Ineligibility in Capital Sentencing

Date: Jun 1, 2016

Defendants' Right to Inform Juries of Parole Ineligibility in Capital Sentencing Introduction In the landmark case of Shawn Patrick Lynch v. Arizona, 578 U.S. 613 (2016), the United States Supreme...

Supreme Court Upholds California's Dixon Bar as Adequate Procedural Ground for Federal Habeas Review

Date: Jun 1, 2016

Supreme Court Upholds California's Dixon Bar as Adequate Procedural Ground for Federal Habeas Review Introduction In the landmark case of Deborah K. Johnson, Warden v. Donna Kay Lee, 578 U.S. 605...

Finality of Approved Jurisdictional Determinations: United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co.

Date: Jun 1, 2016

Finality of Approved Jurisdictional Determinations: United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. Introduction United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co. (578 U.S. 590) is a landmark...

Mar v. Green: Resignation Triggers the Limitations Period for Constructive Discharge Claims under Title VII

Date: May 24, 2016

Mar v. Green: Resignation Triggers the Limitations Period for Constructive Discharge Claims under Title VII Introduction Marvin Green v. Megan J. Brennan, 578 U.S. 547 (2016), is a landmark Supreme...

Foster v. Chatman: Supreme Court Establishes Rigorous Standards for Batson Claims in Capital Cases

Date: May 24, 2016

Foster v. Chatman: Supreme Court Establishes Rigorous Standards for Batson Claims in Capital Cases Introduction Foster v. Chatman, 578 U.S. 488 (2016), is a landmark decision by the United States...

Renaldo Chante Adams v. Alabama: Reinforcing Juvenile Sentencing Standards Under the Eighth Amendment

Date: May 24, 2016

Renaldo Chante Adams v. Alabama: Reinforcing Juvenile Sentencing Standards Under the Eighth Amendment Introduction The case of Renaldo Chante Adams v. Alabama, decided by the United States Supreme...

Lack of Standing in Redistricting Appeal: Cantor v. Personhuballah

Date: May 24, 2016

Lack of Standing in Redistricting Appeal: Cantor v. Personhuballah Introduction The Supreme Court case Robert J. Wittman, et al., Appellants v. Gloria Personhuballah, et al. (No. 14–1504) addressed...

Speedy Trial Clause Limited to Pre-Conviction Phase: Betterman v. Montana

Date: May 20, 2016

Speedy Trial Clause Limited to Pre-Conviction Phase: Betterman v. Montana Introduction Brandon Thomas Betterman v. Montana, 578 U.S. 437 (2016), addresses the applicability of the Sixth Amendment's...