WHAT "SCOTUS" REFUSES TO HEAR

We have discussed and outlined over the past couple of days cases that the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) will hear oral argument on this 2012-2013 Term, as well as cases that it may hear.

Following are three cases, among others, that we now know the Court will not hear:

(1) The Court has rejected an appeal from the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which donated $1.9 million to a political action committee that helped repeal Maine's same-sex marriage law.

Maine's campaign disclosure law requires groups that raise or spend more than $5000 to influence elections to register and disclose donors.  NOM declined to do so, arguing that releasing the donor list would hinder free speech and subject donors to harassment.  The lower court disagreed with NOM and refused to throw out Maine's disclosure law.

(National Organization for Marriage v. McKee, Docket Number 11-599, from the 1st Circuit)

(2) The Court refuses to hear an appeal challenging a federal rule that bars development on 58.5 million acres of roadless areas in national forests.

The justices announced that they will leave in place a federal appeals court decision that upheld the so-called "roadless rule" that took effect late in President Bill Clinton's second term.

(Wyoming v. Department of Agriculture, Docket Number 11-1378, et al.)

(3) The Supreme Court refuses to overturn the death sentence for a man in Oklahoma who was convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend and her infant daughter.  The man, Raymond Eugene Johnson, was convicted of beating the woman, Brooke Whitaker, in the head with a hammer and setting her and her 7-month-old baby, Kya Whitaker, on fire in their gasoline-doused home.

(Johnson v. State, 2012 OK CR5 (State Citation), Case Number: D-2009-702; from the 10th Circuit)

This tweet and this blog are brought to you as a public service by the national general practice law firm of Charles Jerome Ware, P.A., Attorneys and Counsellors.  Always contact a lawyer directly for advice and consultation.

[www.breakinglegalnews.com/ 10-01-2012; www.scotus-blog.com/ 10-01-2012; law.justia.com/ US Courts of Appeals Cases; www.cbsnews.com/ "Court Won't Hear Anti-Gay Marriage Group Appeal"]