Today at the Supreme Court | 1.15.08

At 10 a.m., the Court is scheduled to hear argument in United States v. Rodriquez (06-1646), asking whether, for purposes of the Armed Career Criminal Act, courts must look only at the maximum sentence under state law for a particular drug offense or may also take sentencing enhancements based on prior convictions into account. Kannon Shanmugam of the Solicitor General’s office will argue for the petitioner, and Charles Rothfeld of Washington, D.C., will argue for the respondent.

At 11 a.m., the Court is scheduled to hear argument in Begay v. United States (06-11543), asking whether a conviction for driving under the influence counts as a “violent felony” under the ACCA. Margaret Katze of the federal defender’s office in Albuquerque, N.M., will argue for the petitioner, and Leondra Kruger of the Solicitor General’s office will argue for the respondent.