Appellate Advocacy Blog Weekly Roundup, Friday, March 25

This week, the biggest news in the world of appellate advocacy was likely the confirmation hearing of Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, which received broad coverage.  Here are a few notable tidbits:

• Bloomberg Law article about important cases from Judge Jackson’s tenure as a federal judge  
• SCOTUSblog summary of DAY ONE of the nomination hearing.  
• SCOTUSblog summary of DAY TWO of the nomination hearing.
• SCOTUSblog summary of DAY THREE of the nomination hearing.

On Wednesday, the Court ruled via its “Emergency Docket” to throw out a Wisconsin Supreme Court opinion adopting a redistricting plan submitted by the state’s governor that would have increased the number of majority-Black districts in the Wisconsin State Assembly.  Justice Sotomayor, in an opinion joined by Justice Kagan, dissented and called the ruling unprecedented and unnecessary.

On Thursday, the Court ruled that a Texas death row inmate must be allowed to have his pastor touch him and pray out loud during his execution.  In the Court’s decision, it urged states, again, to adopt clear rules concerning the presence of spiritual advisors at executions and instructed courts to allow executions to go forward with religious accommodations when necessary.  Justice Thomas was the only dissenting Justice.  More from SCOTUSblog.  

In #AppellateJobs, there is an opening for a position of law clerk in the chambers of Judge Christopher P. Yates, on the Michigan Court of Appeals.  Applications are sought by April 8.  Job Posting HERE.