Replies

I’ll copy/paste for those that can’t get in:

10:01
Amy:
First opinion is in Southern Union.

10:01
Amy:
Justice Sotomayor has opinion. The rule of Apprendi v. NJ applies to the imposition of criminal fines. The First Circuit is reversed. The vote is 6-3.

10:01
Amy:
Justice Breyer dissents, joined by Kennedy and Alito.

10:02
Amy:
We have at least one more opinion.

10:02
Amy:
Southern Union was about whether a jury needed to find facts leading to the imposition of a higher criminal fine.

10:02
Kali:
Our case page for Southern Union is here. I will link to the opinion once it’s up on the Court’s website.

10:03
Amy:
To answer a commenter, you may not have been waiting for Southern Union, but Southern Union was probably waiting for Southern Union.

10:04
Amy:
Yes, to answer another commenter, no opinions from Justice Kagan today.

10:04
Amy:
No majority opinions, at least.

10:05
Kali:
Apologies if you’re having trouble with the case page not loading; there are 22,000 people on the live blog right now. If you can figure our how to take turns it may load faster...

10:05
Amy:
Knox v. SEIU, 10-1121. Opinion by Alito.

10:06
Amy:
The Ninth Circuit is reversed. Justice Sotomayor concurs in the judgment, joined by Ginsburg. It appears to be 7-2; Breyer dissented, joined by Kagan.

10:06
Kali:
Here’s a link to the opinion in Southern Union: http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/11pdf/11-94a1b2.pdf

10:06
Amy:
The Court rules that the case is not moot, first. It then rules on the merits: the union’s treatment of nonmembers who had opted out when they got notice of the dues ran afoul of the First Amendment.

10:06 Amy:
This is not the final opinion. We have at least one more.

10:07
Amy:
To answer another question, yes, when you become the Chief Justice you automatically become the most senior Justice and get to go last with opinions, even if you have not been on the Court as long as some other Justices.