In his brief (1.5 paragraph) concurrence to today’s ruling that life without parole is an unconstitutional sentence for minors for non-homicide offenses, Stevens gives about as perfect and concise a summary of a liberal view of Constitutional interpretation as one could ask for: Society changes. Knowledge accumulates. We learn, sometimes, from our mistakes. Punishments that [...]
Entries Tagged as 'John Paul Stevens'
Reason Number 14,538 To Miss John Paul Stevens
May 17th, 2010 · No Comments · AR, Law and Justice, Supreme Court
Tags: constitutional law·Graham v. Florida·John Paul Stevens·juvenile justice·Supreme Court
And Now For Some Genuinely Good News
March 31st, 2010 · No Comments · AS, Immigration, Law and Justice, Politics, Supreme Court
No amount of oil drilling news can ruin my good mood today, not when there are so many shockingly reasonable federal court decisions being announced. The first, Padilla v. Kentucky, finds that bad legal advice about the immigration consequences of a criminal guilty plea constitutes ineffective assistance of counsel. This is huge. As one immigrants’ [...]
Tags: Antonin Scalia·Clarence Thomas·criminal law·deportation·drugs·immigrants' rights·Immigration·ineffective assistance of counsel·John McCain·John Paul Stevens·Justice Department·justices·legal advice·N.S.A.·oil drilling·Padilla v. Kentucky·Sixth Amendment·U.S. Constitution·Vaughn Walker·warrantless wiretapping·Wonkette