Catching Up with SCOTUS

Much like the Supreme Court, we took a recess for the last two weeks.

Now that we're back, let's get caught up with the latest and greatest from our favorite court.

1. Coming Soon... Gay marriage is the year's blockbuster issue, and we finally have a date for oral arguments. Mark your calendar, book your flight, and secure a linestander: The Court will hear arguments in the California Prop 8 case on Tuesday, March 26, and the Defense of Marriage Act challenge on Wednesday, March 27.
2. Happening. The Court granted certiorari in three cases on Friday: Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl (an Indian Child Welfare Act challenge), United States v. Davila (a plea bargaining dispute), and Tarrant Regional Water District v. Herrmann (a water rights appeal).
3. Not Happening. If you were hopeful that the Court would add the embryonic stem cell (ESC) research challenge or the Georgia church gun ban appeal to its caseload, you're out of luck: The Nine denied cert in both cases on Monday. That means that the National Institutes of Health can continue federally-funded ESC research and Georgia church-goers can continue leaving their guns at home while they're in church. The Court also declined to hear an appeal regarding The Real Truth About Abortion Inc.'s status as a political action committee, CNN reports.
4. That's Arguable. Oral arguments resumed Monday with Descamps v. United States and The Standard Fire Insurance Co. v. Knowles. The Court will continue hearing arguments on Tuesday with Delia v. E.M.A. and Gabelli v. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Court is also expected to issue opinions on Tuesday and Wednesday this week before oral arguments, according to SCOTUSblog.
5. Spotlight on Sotomayor. Justice Sonia Sotomayor is having a big month. Not only is her memoir "My Beloved World" scheduled for a Jan. 15 release, but Vice President Joe Biden has selected Sotomayor to swear him in for a second term later this month, The Associated Press reports.

Related Resources:

• Is it Ethical to Hire a Line Stander for a Supreme Court Hearing? (FindLaw's Supreme Court Blog)
• Supreme Court to Hear Same-Sex Marriage Cases in Late March (Reuters)
• High Court to Consider 10 Cases in February (FindLaw's Supreme Court Blog)