The Week Ahead

Sotomayor Nomination

• The Judiciary Committee has scheduled a Tuesday meeting to begin considering the nomination, with a formal vote likely to occur the following week, after Senators have had the opportunity to review Judge Sotomayor’s answers to the written follow-up questions they submitted. After the committee’s vote, the full Senate will likely hold its final roll call before the August recess, by Aug. 7.

Briefs in case set for reargument

• On Friday, both sides in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (08-205) are to file supplemental briefs in the case, which will be reargued Sept. 9.  The briefs are to address this question: “For the proper disposition of this case, should the Court overrule either or both Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce, 494 U.S. 652 (1990), and the part of McConnell v. Federal Election Comm’n, 540 U.S. 93 (2003), which addresses the facial validity of Section 203 of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, 2 U.S.C. §441b?”

October Term 2009

• The petitioner’s merits brief is due Friday in Beard v. Kindler (08-992). The respondent’s brief on the merits is due Monday in United States v. Stevens (08-769).

Term Review Panels/CLEs 

• The Supreme Court – A Year in Review” next Tuesday, 7/21, at the New York City Bar Association, chaired by Cristina Rodríguez, Professor of Law, New York University School of Law. Sign-up information at the link.