New Circuit Justice Assignments
on Sep 7, 2005 at 2:01 pm
The Court issued an order today reallocating circuit assignments among the Justices. Perhaps notably (perhaps not), Justice O’Connor’s responsibility as the Circuit Justice for the Ninth Circuit was not reassigned.
Circuit Justices are responsible for ruling on certain motions arising from their assigned circuits, such as motions for extensions of time. In the case motions for a stay of execution or other motions relating to death penalty matters, the Circuit Justice ordinarily refers the motion to the Court as a whole, but takes the lead in recommending a disposition of the motion.
The order is effective immediately.
Thanks to reader Matthew J. Price for alerting us to the order.
UPDATE: For those who are curious, the only changes are shifting the Chief Justice’s circuits to the 3 most junior Justices — Breyer gets the Federal Circuit, Ginsburg gets the D.C. Circuit, and Thomas gets the Fourth Circuit.
