This Week at the Supreme Court

This week the Supreme Court finishes its February sitting with several cases about criminal law and a notable abortion case.
On Monday, the Court will consider whether a misdemeanor with a “recklessness” mens rea can count as a crime of “domestic violence” for the purposes of the federal firearm possession statute. After that, the Supreme Court will examine whether either the Due Process Clause or the Eighth Amendment prohibitsa former prosecutor who approved the capital case against the defendant from serving as a state supreme court justice on the same case (along with a question about a potentially biased juror).
Tuesday’s cases concern the federal sex offender registration statute and bankruptcy law.

The week’s most-publicized case, Whole Women’s Health v. Hellerstedt, will be heard on Wednesday. This case involves an abortion-rights challenge to a Texas statute that promotes women’s health by requiring abortionists to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and to adhere to standards that govern ambulatory surgical centers.
The Court will hear its next round of arguments starting on March 21.