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January arguments, day by day

The Supreme Court will open its January sitting with the argument on constitutional issues surrounding the lethal injection method of execution. The Court on Friday released the calendar for the session beginning Jan. 7, with Baze v. Rees (07-5439) scheduled at 10 a.m. that first day. That is the Kentucky case raising three issues about the three-drug protocol for execution, now used in 36 states.

Two combined cases from Indiana on requiring photo IDs to vote will be heard in the first hour on Wednesday, Jan. 9. (A PDF of the calendar can be found here.)

The Court will hold two-a-day case arguments in the January sitting, thus there will be no afternoon hearings.

Here is the calendar, day by day, with a summary of issues at stake:

(Links to the respective case pages on SCOTUSwiki.)

Monday, Jan. 7

Baze v. Rees (07-5439) — constitutionality of lethal injection protocol.

Dada v. Mukasey (06-1181) –postponement of agreement for alien to voluntarily leave U.S.

Tuesday, Jan. 8

Gonzalez v. U.S. (06-11612) — waiver of right to Article III judge to preside over jury selection when counsel agreed to have a U.S. magistrate instead

Boulware v. U.S. (06-1509) — taxation on diversion of corporate funds to shareholder of a firm that has no profits

Wednesday, Jan. 9

Crawford v. Marion County Election Board (07-21) and Indiana Democratic Party v. Rokita (07-25) — constitutionality of requiring voters to show a photo ID before they may vote (Cases consolidated for one hour of argument)

Kentucky Retirement Systems v. EEOC (06-1037) — scope of age bias in disability benefits packages

Monday, Jan. 14

Virginia v. Moore (06-1082) — lawfulness of search following an arrest that violates state law

Preston v. Ferrer (06-1463) — federal preemption of arbitration agreement on talent agent’s fees

Tuesday, Jan. 15

U.S. v. Rodriquez (06-1646) — crimes that qualify for enhanced sentence under armed career criminal law; specific issue involves state drug crime conviction

Begay v. U.S. (06-11543)– whether felony drunk-driving is a violent felony for purposes of enhanced sentencing under armed csareer criminal law

Wednesday, Jan. 16

Quanta Computer v. LG Electronics (06-937) — definition of exhaustion of patent rights when licensee sells products containing the patent

Meadwestvaco Corp. v. Illinois Department of Revenue (06-1413) — validity of state tax on sale of investment in LexisNexis