Details on today’s opinions
on Feb 23, 2011 at 11:28 am
The Court issued two opinions this morning:
Walker v. Martin (09-996) – In a unanimous opinion by Justice Ginsburg, the Court reversed the decision of the Ninth Circuit. The Court held that a California rule requiring state habeas petitions to be filed “as promptly as the circumstances allow†constitutes an independent state ground that is adequate to bar habeas relief in federal court.
The opinion in Walker can be found here.
Williamson v. Mazda Motor of America (08-1314) – In a unanimous opinion by Justice Breyer (with Justice Kagan recused), the Court reversed the decision of the California Court of Appeal. The Court held that state tort suits alleging that car manufacturers should have installed lap-and-shoulder belts, rather than simply lap belts, on rear inner seats are not preempted by federal auto safety standards.
Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion, while Justice Thomas filed an opinion concurring in the judgment.The opinion in Williamson can be found here.
