And the Verdict IS…
Exxon v. Baker – $2.5 Billion in punitive damages was too much. $507.5 million, tops, to match the compensatory damages.
Kennedy v. Louisiana – baby-rapers don’t get the death penalty unless you can prove an intent to commit murder. If no one died, then… No one dies.
One more opinion pending today (leaving four for Thursday)…. (@ 10:11 Eastern time)
Giles v. California. I’m not real sure what this one is, but Scalia wrote the majority opinion. You can read it here. (PDF file)
SCOTUSblog says “at least one more decision coming” leaving three for Thursday…
No Heller today. I guess the Justices want to be on a plane out of town when that one hits the 6 o’clock news. Thursday it is.
The last decision of the day is Plains Commerce v. Long Family Land and Cattle. Be still, my beating heart. Another 5-4 wherein the eeeevil right-wing has stolen more from the Red Man. Ginsberg, Stevens, Souter and Breyer dissented.
The Court has announced that “all of its remaining opinions” will be released tomorrow at 10:00AM Eastern.
Heller is tomorrow, for sure. It will not carry over.
UPDATE: Read this related piece at Concurrent Opinions.