SCOTUS Releases Oral Argument Schedules for February and March

We mentioned Monday that the Supreme Court has finally set the dates for Affordable Care Act oral arguments. It's terribly exciting, and we can only hope that the ensuing coverage and branding opportunities will rival the royal wedding. (There has to be a vendor somewhere in D.C. willing to produce Supreme Court/individual mandate tea towels or novelty gavels, right?)

Shockingly, the individual mandate is not the only hot-button issue the Nine will hear in the Spring. Here's the schedule for the other cases before the Court in February and March.

Tuesday, February 21:

• Freeman v. Quicken Loans
• Taniguchi v. Kan Pacific Saipan

Wednesday, February 22:

• U.S. v. Alvarez
• Blueford v. Arkansas

Tuesday, February 28:

• Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co.
• Mohamad v. Palestinian Authority

Wednesday, February 29:

• Magner v. Gallagher
• Armour v. City of Indianapolis

Monday, March 19:

• Astrue v. Capato
• Southern Union Co. v. U.S.

Tuesday, March 20:

• Miller v. Alabama
• Jackson v. Hobbs

Wednesday, March 21:

• Vasquez v. U.S.
• Reichle v. Howards

Truly, it's going to be a blockbuster season for the Court. In particular, we're looking forward to arguments in Astrue v. Capato, addressing whether posthumously-conceived children are entitled to Social Security survivor benefits, and U.S. v. Alvarez, determining the constitutionality of the Stolen Valor Act.

We're also interested in the Justices' reactions to Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, which will resolve a conflict among the circuits regarding the applicability of the Alien Tort Statute to American corporations for human rights violations that occur overseas.

As always, we'll keep you updated on developments and briefs for all of your favorite SCOTUS cases right here, so add FindLaw's Supreme Court blog to your RSS feed.

Related Resources:

• February Oral Argument Calendar (Supreme Court)
• Astrue v. Capato (FindLaw's CaseLaw)
• Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum (FindLaw's CaseLaw)
• Cert Granted: Will SCOTUS Side with Seventh on Alien Tort Act? (FindLaw's Seventh Circuit blog)
• Artificial Insemination Child Denied Social Security Benefits (FindLaw's Eighth Circuit blog)