Supreme Court Upholds 'Three-Strikes' Law

[ThomasIsUnderrated]

Supreme Court Upholds 'Three-Strikes' Law
6 minutes ago

By ANNE GEARAN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld long sentences meted out under the nation's toughest three-time offender law, ruling that a prison term of 25 years to life is not too harsh for a small-time thief who shoplifted golf clubs

Read the rest HERE (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=558&e=3&u=/ap/20030305/ap_on_go_su_co/scotus_three_strikes)

[ThomasIsUnderrated]

AP is reporting that it was a 5-4 split. More info coming in soon.

[Wyatt_Junker]

Good.

I would love to read the dissent.

[ThomasIsUnderrated]

OK, the report has changed. Ginsburg did not write the dissent in this case, but did write a dissent in another case. The opinions will be available online shortly. It was, however, the usual 5-4 split. I'll post a link as soon as it is up.

[ThomasIsUnderrated]

The opinions for the cases regarding "three strikes" are now available. Read the syllabus/opinions for Ewing v. California HERE (http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/01-6978.ZS.html) and the syllabus/opinions for Lockyer v. Andrade HERE (http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/01-1127.ZS.html)

[MaximumSam]

Hey Thomas, any word on when the decision in the flag burning case will come? I wrote on that for class.

[ThomasIsUnderrated]

No other opinions are expected this week. That is hardly a guarantee that none will be issued, but it is highly unlikely. Also, the Court will be in recess March 10-23, so I wouldn't expect the decision for Virginia v. Black to be announced before March 24.

[PeteS_in_CA]

I'm surprised that Lockyer defended Three Strikes.

[Venus]

Another bitch-slap to the 9th! Hahahahahheeheeheehee!

Pete, Lockyer had no choice in the matter. It's a state law and he's required to defend it.