Supreme Court Report: Rivas-Villegas v. Cortesluna, 20-1539

October 21, 2021 Volume 29, Issue 2 This Report summarizes opinions issued on October 18, 2021 (Part I); and cases granted review on that date (Part II). Opinion: Rivas-Villegas v. Cortesluna, 20-1539 Rivas-Villegas v. Cortesluna, 20-1539. The Court summarily reversed a Ninth Circuit decision that had denied qualified immunity to a police officer who, after…

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Supreme Court Report: Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas, 20-493

October 21, 2021 Volume 29, Issue 2 This Report summarizes opinions issued on October 18, 2021 (Part I); and cases granted review on that date (Part II). Case Granted Review: Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas, 20-493 Ysleta del Sur Pueblo v. Texas, 20-493.  At issue is whether the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama…

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Supreme Court Report: Denezpi v. United States, 20-7622

October 21, 2021 Volume 29, Issue 2 This Report summarizes opinions issued on October 18, 2021 (Part I); and cases granted review on that date (Part II). Case Granted Review: Denezpi v. United States, 20-7622 Denezpi v. United States, 20-7622. The question presented is whether “the Court of Indian Offenses of Ute Mountain Ute Agency…

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Supreme Court Report: Shurtleff v. City of Boston, MA, 20-1800

October 7, 2021 Volume 29, Issue 1 This Report summarizes cases granted review on September 30, 2021 (Part I). Case Granted Review: Shurtleff v. City of Boston, MA, 20-1800 Shurtleff v. City of Boston, MA, 20-1800. At issue is whether the City of Boston violated the First Amendment by denying a Christian organization’s request to…

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National Association of Attorneys General Announces Winners for 2021 Supreme Court Best Brief Awards

Washington, D.C. — The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) has announced the winners of the 2021 Supreme Court Best Brief Awards. The Best Brief Awards are given annually to honor appellate practitioners from state attorney general offices who have exhibited superb work in representing their states before the U.S. Supreme Court. The winners were…

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The State Solicitors General and Appellate Chiefs Conference

This program is hosted by the NAAG Center for Supreme Court Advocacy. September 20-21, 2021 NAAG’s annual State Solicitors General and Appellate Chiefs Conference is scheduled for September 20-21, 2021, at the JW Marriott Hotel in Chicago, Illinois. The conference will provide a forum in which state solicitors general and appellate chiefs can exchange ideas…

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U.S. Supreme Court Brief Writing Style Guide

There are few tasks more daunting to a lawyer than being asked to write, for the first time, a U.S. Supreme Court brief.

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How To Write a Successful Brief In Opposition: A Guide For State Lawyers

An overview of the procedures and strategies applicable to the Supreme Court briefs in opposition process.

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How to Write a Successful Cert Petition: A Guide for State Lawyers

Writing cert petitions is a challenge, in no small part because they are so different from ordinary appellate briefs that focus on the merits.

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Supreme Court Federal Habeas Opinions in the 2017 Term

Federal habeas law continues to be of significant interest to the Supreme Court. This article summarizes the Supreme Court’s decisions on habeas cases in the 2017 term.

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