Bob CollinsThe excitement is building in Washington, where the Supreme Court is clearing things out.
So far today, the Court has ruled that Louisiana can’t execute people convicted of a raping a child. It’s cruel and unusual punishment, the court says. (Read decision here)
In an earlier ruling today, the Supreme Court cut the $2.5 billion punitive damages award in the 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster to $500 million. Justice David Souter wrote the decision. (Read it here)
But where’s the big one? The District of Columbia v. Heller? The case considers whether DC’s firearms ban violates the 2nd Amendment. A lot of court watchers thought it would be out Monday, then yesterday, and today. Yesterday, the court said all remaining cases for the term would be released by 9 a.m. Central Time. Now, it appears it’ll be Thursday.
ScotusBlog (a GREAT blog!) is live blogging things here. 92% of the people polled on ScotusBlog believe the ban will be struck down.
Somehow, the expert court watchers have determined — I guess based on who wrote today’s decisions — that Justice Scalia is writing the Heller decision, which suggests the ban is toast.
