Oct 6th, 2008
Posted by Rachel Myers, ACLU at 1:19pm	Free Speech, National Security, Voting Rights

The Hotly-Anticipated and Exceedingly Handy ACLU Supreme Court Overview is Here!

Today, the Supreme Court returns for business and John Roberts begins his fourth term as Chief Justice.

According to the latest edition of ACLU Legal Director Steven R. Shapiro’s annual overview, there is no doubt that Roberts presides over a conservative court. Indeed, there is little doubt that the Roberts court is even more conservative than the Rehnquist court that preceded it. Read on to find out what cases we can expect to see before the Court and what’s at stake for our civil liberties.

Also very useful:

• Jonathan Hafetz, incoming staff attorney with the ACLU National Security Project, gives a rundown of the case of al-Marri v. Puccuiarelli. Al-Marri is the only designated “enemy combatant” detained in the mainland United States. At issue is whether the president can order the military to seize and indefinitely detain citizens and legal residents in the U.S.


• Chris Hansen, senior staff attorney with the ACLU First Amendment Working Group, explains ACLU v. Mukasey, the ACLU's successful challenge to the Child Online Protection Act. After two prior trips to the Supreme Court, the law was once again declared unconstitutional by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in July 2008.


• Laughlin McDonald, Director of the ACLU Voting Rights Project, enlightens us on Northwest Austin Municipal Utilities District v. Mukasey, a challenge to the constitutionality of the recently extended pre-clearance requirements of the Voting Rights Act.

The New York Times and the Christian Science Monitor have also offered their predictions for the term.

Permalink |	Free Speech, National Security, Voting Rights

Tags: U.S. Supreme Court

1. Coastals19@gmail.com Says:
   Oct 24th, 2008 at 6:26pm

   Hello,

   Last summer classmates of mine from Southern Oregon University that worked at Albertsons of Ashland began threatening me, Women named Teddi, Becky and another one told me I wouldn't graduate and that they'd kill me if I didn't leave Oregon. I thought they were kidding. It all started when they had asked me where I was from originally and I told them Los Angeles. They told me they were from north California and didn't like people from southern California. I had no idea these people were serious criminals. One night in August I went in to buy a Gatorade for my next mornings workout at the school gym. Teddi yelled at me, threatened me and cussed me out and called me a physical freak ( I have a deformed ear). I didn't argue with her, When I got home I ranted about it on Craigslist. She told the dean of students, Dr. Laura O'Bryon who now won't let me graduate or have my diploma because of the craigslist blogging, I have completed all the work necessary on my part but they won't give me the diploma. I figured this was a violation of several Constitutional Rights and especially my first ammendment right to free speech. I also figured the dean of students was guilty under Rule 42 section 1983 of the federal rules. I contacted attorneys, including the findlaw you have links to and no one is interested unless I have a lot of money to spend. I have no money at all. I am a starving ex-college student. Can you put me in contact with persons or organisations that can be of help?