Monday, April 09, 2007

5-4 Decisions this Term

Anthony Kennedy always in the majority:
_Massachusetts v. EPA, 05-1120: The court faults the Bush administration's policy on global warming. Majority: Kennedy, Stephen Breyer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, David Souter and John Paul Stevens. Dissent: Chief Justice John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas.

_Philip Morris USA v. Williams, 05-1256: The court throws out a $79.5 million punitive damages verdict to a smoker's widow in a fraud case against Altria Group Inc. (MO)'s Philip Morris USA. Majority: Kennedy, Roberts, Alito, Breyer, Souter. Dissent: Ginsburg, Scalia, Stevens, Thomas.

_Ayers v. Belmontes, 05-493: The court reinstates the death penalty for a California killer. Majority: Kennedy, Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas. Dissent: Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter, Stevens.

_Lawrence v. Florida, 05-8820: The court affirms the death sentence of a Florida killer who missed a deadline for an appeal. Majority: Kennedy, Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas. Dissent: Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter, Stevens.

_Marrama v. Citizens Bank, 05-996: The court limits the rights of debtors who do not disclose all their assets under federal bankruptcy law. Majority: Kennedy, Breyer, Ginsburg, Souter, Stevens. Dissent: Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Thomas.

_Limtiaco v. Camacho, 06-116: The court sides with Guam's attorney general, who blocked issuance of more than $400 million in bonds in dispute with the U.S. territory's governor. Majority: Kennedy, Roberts, Breyer, Scalia, Thomas. Dissent: Alito, Ginsburg, Souter, Stevens.

2 comments:

dcat said...

Kennedy -- the new O'Connor?

dcat

Stephen said...

A one-man majority