Renovation
The Supreme Court is in a mid-winter recess. As usual, however, various odds and ends occurred. There is a renovation project:
The Court will begin work next week to install additional lighting around the building and grounds, install a bird deterrent system around the ornate marble features of the West Portico, and perform a general cleaning to preserve the building’s exterior marble façade. The project, which will be completed in phases and during overnight hours, will continue for approximately eight months.
Orders
Two attorneys were appointed to defendant opinions below after the federal government did not do so. As noted here, this happened this term somewhat more than usual. The Court is reaching out to decide things.
Bowman Execution
Marion Bowman's application for a stay of execution in South Carolina was denied. He flagged alleged racism and competency of counsel issues.
It sounds like a fact-based matter that SCOTUS would not generally reach out to take. Granting his guilt, sounds like a horrible crime worthy of a long sentence.
He also said there is evidence the state's usage of lethal injection was problematic, including the secrecy of the details of the procedure. I have talked about this in the past and it's a serious problem overall as a matter of the First Amendment and due process.
The conservative justices have never had much concern for usage reliability issues even though there were many issues. So, this too was a Hail Mary.
He could have chosen the firing squad or electrocution. Those do not sound like great options though some experts think the firing squad is the "best" one for the person.
He has been confined for almost twenty-five years (see Justice Breyer's dissent in Gloss v. Glossip) and proclaims his innocence in the murder of a friend.
Bowman was the first person executed in 2025. He did not ask for clemency (suppose it was not likely to be granted), noting as an innocent person, life in prison was not something he could support.
Other Stuff
Justice Jackson gave an interview, including talk about the necklace that she wore during the inauguration.
Rev. Chloe Breyer (Justice Breyer's daughter) wrote an op-ed against the Trump Administration lifting a ban on immigration raids on "sensitive areas" which includes churches.