SCOTUSblog by Edith Roberts 3/24/2020
Yesterday the court released opinions in four argued cases, by posting the rulings on its website at five-minute intervals rather than delivering them from the bench as it usually does. Kevin Daley reports at The Washington Free Beacon that it was “the first time since Bush v. Gore that the justices issued rulings without reading decisions from the bench during an official public session.†In Kahler v. Kansas, the justices ruled 6-3 that the Constitution’s due process clause does not require Kansas to adopt an insanity test that turns on a defendant’s ability to recognize that his crime was morally wrong. Amy Howe has this blog’s opinion analysis, which first appeared at Howe on the Court. Jess Bravin reports for The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) that although “[t]he court left open the possibility of a future challenge under the Eighth Amendment, which forbids cruel and unusual punishments,†“Monday’s decision exemplifies a significant turn in the philosophy of criminal law.â€
More:
https://www.scotusblog.com/2020/03/tuesday-round-up-523/#more-292642
