SCOTUS Watch: Orders

We are focused on Supreme Court things lately. The regular term will end soon, and there will be fewer.

The Order List again had a few interesting tidbits, including granting a case to determine if states need twelve-person juries for felony cases. The different policies regarding juries have led the Supreme Court not to nationalize all the federal rules (see, e.g., grand juries) there yet. 

They did not (without comment) take a challenge involving a now nearly 100-year-old federal judge who has been taken off regular service. It is a bit of a conservative cause celebre in some quarters. Others aren't too excited. They figure Congress set forth guidelines that allow courts of appeal to regulate such things, and it wasn't unjustly applied here. 

Jackson (with reason) and Alito (not) recused without saying why. Alito (with Thomas) wanted to take a criminal justice case. Alito wanted to take a case involving schoolchildren:

When she sought approval to hang flyers at school to advertise club meetups, school administrators would not approve the flyers because they contained pictures of students with “Defund Planned Parenthood” placards. 

Alito and various conservatives are more open to the federal courts intervening when conservative causes are involved. Meanwhile, the justices are preparing for the final burst of opinions, many of the twenty or so left "hot button" issues. 

There is only one (Thursday) opinion day scheduled so far. Granting another next Thursday is a gimmee; that is still not enough. At least two more should be necessary. Having one tomorrow would have been logical. We shall see how things go.  

Meanwhile, like usual, the Order List has some notable matters, even if nothing earth-shattering.