Moritz Legal Information Blog

Yesterday, the Supreme Court reversed the decision of the 11th Circuit in Maples v. Thomas , ruling that a capital defendant had shown cause to excuse his procedural default when he had been "abandoned by counsel...[and] left unrepresented at a critical time for his state postconviction proceeding..."  It was uncontested that Maples was blameless for the default. Justice Ginsburg authored the opinion, Justice Alito filed a concurring opinion, and Justices Scalia and Thomas filed a dissenting opinion. News and Commentary: SCOTUSblog Sentencing Law and Policy NPR Wall Street Journal Law Blog

Stanford Law School recently launched its China Guiding Cases Project , a website translating and providing commentary on "guiding cases" issued by China's People's Supreme Court. The project "aims to advance knowledge and understanding of Chinese law and to enable judges and legal experts both inside and outside of China to contribute to the evolution of Chinese case law through ongoing dialogue on 'guiding cases.'” The site provides quotes from Chinese judges and legal experts on the significance of "guiding cases" in the Chinese legal system. Additional expert commentary will follow.

If you plan on looking up a term on Wikipedia tomorrow, it looks like you will be out of luck (unless you read a foreign language). The English-language Wikipedia site is planning a blackout in protest of anti-piracy legislation currently under consideration in Congress. See Wikipedia's official statement and a related article in the Washington Post. See also information from THOMAS about the proposed legislation at issue: the Stop Online Piracy Act ( H.R. 3261 ) and the PROTECT IP Act ( S. 968 ).

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  I Have A Dream speech Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service MLK Day of Service at OSU

As the Cincinnati Enquirer reports , State Representative Ron Maag has submitted a bill to raise speed limits on Ohio’s highways by five miles per hour. The bill, HB 395 , awaits committee assignment. The Enquirer summarizes the current debate and notes that a similar bill appeared in the Ohio Assembly in 2009. The Assembly’s web site offers that bill, HB 162 , along with analyses and fiscal notes. How do Ohio speed limits compare with other states? The Governors Highway Safety Association, a group that represents state and territorial highway safety offices, has compiled a table that lists speed limits by state. Click on a state’s name, and you’ll find more highway safety laws for that jurisdiction.

In contemplation of a run for the presidency, Stephen Colbert has officially handed over control of his super PAC to colleague Jon Stewart. The super PAC's official name: “The Definitely Not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert Super PAC.” See the Washington Post for more details on which presidency he seeks.

U.S. District Judge Gregory Frost has halted the execution of Charles Lorraine, who was scheduled to be executed next Wednesday for the 1986 murders of an elderly couple.  Judge Frost wrote that the state of Ohio has not followed its own execution policies. Sentencing Law and Policy Blog Columbus Dispatch ABC News State officials said they would appeal the ruling.