The Week Ahead

No oral arguments are scheduled and no non-capital orders are expected this week.

By mid-week, reply briefs are expected in both the District of Columbia’s petition to uphold the district’s handgun ban, District of Columbia v. Heller (07-290), and the respondent’s cross-petition contesting the finding that five plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the ban, Parker v. District of Columbia (07-335).

The Justices are scheduled to hold a private conference on Friday, with orders expected the following Monday, Oct. 29.

At some point this week, the D.C. Circuit Court may act on the government’s petition for rehearing en banc in the cases of Bismullah v. Gates and Parhat v. Gates, setting procedures for civilian court review of detainee confinement rulings by the military. If rehearing is denied, the government is expected to seek relief in the Supreme Court, initially with Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., as Circuit Justice.

No petitioners’ or respondents’ briefs are due this week.