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Major cases being heard

The Supreme Court is set to begin a term Monday that could lead to enhanced rights for terrorism detainees, a ruling against part of a child pornography law and shorter prison terms for crack cocaine dealers. Among the major cases to be heard by the court:

Guantanamo detainees: Can detainees at the U.S. naval base in Cuba use U.S. civilian courts to challenge their indefinite imprisonment after Congress passed and President Bush signed a law that says they cannot? (Boumediene vs. Bush, Al-Odah vs. U.S.)

Crack-powder cocaine disparity: Does a federal judge have the discretion to impose a more lenient sentence on sellers of crack cocaine, most of whom are black, departing from federal sentencing guidelines? (Kimbrough vs. U.S.)

Lethal injections: Death row inmates claim that lethal injection as practiced in Kentucky violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. (Baze vs. Rees)

Voter ID: Democrats and civil rights groups say laws requiring voters to produce photo identification in order to cast a ballot violate the Constitution. (Crawford vs. Marion County Election Board, Indiana Democratic Party vs. Rokita).

Child pornography: The government's appeal of a ruling declaring unconstitutional a portion of a child pornography law. (U.S. vs. Williams)

Investor lawsuits: Can third parties such as investment banks, accountants or lawyers be found liable for scheming with companies? Shareholder lawsuitsinclude one stemming from the Enron scandal. (Stoneridge Investment vs. Scientific-Atlanta)

[Last modified September 30, 2007, 01:51:06]