The Supreme Court released its last three decisions of the term today.  The opinions can be found at the links below.

Panetti v. Quarterman (Kennedy, J.) (5-4 ruling blocking the execution of a mentally ill Texas murderer).

Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc. (Kennedy, J.) (5-4 decision that overturns a 96-year-old precedent regarding setting minimum prices).

Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School Dist. No. 1 (Roberts, C.J.) (5-4 decision striking down voluntary integration policies in 2 school districts; holding that race cannot be a factor in school assignments).

As noted, these 3 decisions - the 73d, 74th, and 75th of the term - finish the Court’s business for the summer.  Below is Chief Justice Roberts’ concluding statement:

“I am authorized to announce that the Court has acted on all cases submitted for decision this Term. Dispositiion of items scheduled for Conference will be reflected on the Order List that will be released at 10 o’clock tomorrow morning. The Court will be in recess from today until the first Monday in October, 2007, at which time the October 2006 Term of the Court will be adjourned and the October 2007 Term of the Court will begin as provided by law.

“On behalf of the Court, I thank the members of the Court staff for their hard work, professionalism, and dedication to duty. No one better exemplifies those qualities than Harry Fenwick, the Court’s Food Preparation Specialist, who will on June 30 retire after thirty-eight years of service at the Court. Thanks for everything, Harry.

“The outstanding work done by all members of the Court staff contributes significantly to the accomplishment of the Court’s mission.”

Judge Walton issued an expanded opinion on June 21 explaining his reasons for not allowing Libby to remain free on bail pending appeal of his conviction.  The opinion is at the link below.

Walton Memorandum Opinion - June 21

It is now easy to receive updates from your favorite BNA publications via email. Follow these steps from your BU computer or from a home computer that has been configured for proxy access.

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The Supreme Court issued 5 opinions today.  Links to the slip opinions are below.  The current term is expected to conclude on Thursday with four more decisions.  For analysis of the decisions linked below and of SCOTUS in general, please take a look at www.scotusblog.com.

National Assn. of Home Builders v. Defenders of Wildlife (Alito, J.) (federal agency required by law to take specific action does not have to follow conflicting mandate of the Endangered Species Act).

Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. (Alito, J.) (taxpayers lack standing to challenge White House faith-based initiatives program).

Wilkie v. Robbins (Souter, J.) (government employees carrying out official duties not for personal benefit are not subject to damage claims against them personally based on claim that they violated RICO anti-racketeering law or private property rights).

Federal Election Comm’n v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. (Roberts, C.J.) (Wisconsin abortion rights group had First Amendment right to air campaign ads during election season that named candidate running for the Senate).

Morse v. Frederick (Roberts, C.J.) (public school officials do not violate student’s free speech rights by punishing student for words or actions that promote drug message).

Note the addition of The English Reports to Hein Online. Hein provides this description:

HeinOnline allows you to search or browse all 176 volumes of the English Reports, Full Reprint along with its “Index of Cases” and “Index Chart.” This collection encompasses the decisions of the English Courts prior to the commencement of the Law Reports in 1865. It represents reprints of 275 separate series of reports, arranged by the English Courts: House of Lords, Chancery, Rolls Court, etc. The English Reports, Full Reprint contains over 100,000 cases reprinted verbatim and spans the years 1220 to 1867.

If you’re looking for 19th Century and earlier legislative histories, there are two good places to turn.  The first is the U.S. Federal Legislative History Library provided by Hein Online (which contains both compiled legislative histories and information keyed to individual public laws), and the second is the Century of Lawmaking database provided by the Library of Congress through the American Memory Project (which contains the Annals of Congress, Register of Debates, Congressional Globe, and early House and Senate Journals).

From The Boston Globe: “A proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was swiftly defeated today by a joint session of the Legislature by a vote of 45 to 151, eliminating any chance of getting it on the ballot in November 2008. The measure needed at least 50 votes to advance.” Read more … See the text of the amendment and the calendar for the joint session of the legislature on June 14, 2007.

The judge in the Libby case has decided to order Libby to jail immediately rather than postpone prison until appeals are exhausted.  The news report from CNN is linked below.

CNN Report

Libby’s motion for release pending appeal and the Government’s response are at the links below.  The hearing is scheduled for Thursday (tomorrow).

Motion for Release Pending Appeal

Government’s Response