Welcome back to Supreme Court Brief. We’re monitoring for the possibility of orders this morning, and the justices will hear two cases—a maritime case involving personal injury damages and a Telephone Consumer Protection Act class action. We take a look below at Justice Clarence Thomas’s recent talk at Mercer law school, and we have a quick spotlight on the new documentary “Slay the Dragon,” which examines partisan gerrymandering—long vexing to the justices. Tips and feedback are welcome—contact us at [email protected] and[email protected], and follow us on Twitter @Tonymauro and @MarciaCoyle. Thanks for reading!
After Voicing a Narrow View of Sixth Amendment, Thomas Praises Right to Counsel
On February 27, Justice Clarence Thomas caused consternation with the latest in his series of assertions that longstanding precedents need to be re-examined. In a dissent in Garza v. Idaho Thomas, joined only by Justice Neil Gorsuch, questioned Gideon v. Wainwright, the 1963 ruling that gave indigent defendants the right to be aided by state-appointed counsel.
