Supremes Will Have A Busy Week

The Supreme Court is scheduled to begin their summer recess on Saturday, but between now and then are expected to announce rulings on some big cases:

Some Supreme Court cases still to be decided and the issues involved:

GUANTANAMO TRIALS: Whether President Bush has overstepped his authority with military war-crimes trials for foreigners held at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

TEXAS REDISTRICTING: Whether to throw out all or part of a 2003 congressional map promoted by former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay.

INSANITY: Whether to strike down Arizona's insanity defense law, in an appeal brought on behalf of a schizophrenic teenager who killed a police officer.

CAMPAIGN FINANCE: If Vermont and other states can limit how much money is contributed and spent in political campaigns. (UPDATE - Vermont's law struck down 6-3.)

FOREIGN SUSPECTS: If two foreigners convicted of violent crimes in the United States have to be given new trials because police did not tell them they could seek legal help from their countries' governments, as required by a 1969 treaty.

INMATE NEWSPAPERS: Whether states can keep troublesome inmates from reading most newspapers and magazines.

DEATH PENALTY: Whether Kansas' death penalty law is constitutional. (UPDATE: Supremes rule 5-4 that Kansas' death penalty is constitutional.)

LAWYERS: Whether criminal defendants who are denied the lawyer of their choice, even though they are paying for their own defense, are automatically entitled to a new trial if convicted.

It should be an interesting week for the new Chief Justice and fellow members of the court. And, will there be a retirement? Some of the justices are getting pretty old and aren't all in the best of health. This is the time of year that retirements are usually announced. What do you think a Supreme Court vacancy would do to the elections this Fall?

UPDATE: You can keep up with the fast and furious Supreme Court action at Bench Memos.