A Blakely perspective on Clark

The Supreme Court’s discussion of due process, insanity and mens rea today in Clark is another example of the challenging intersection of criminal law and psychology.  The majority opinion, which rejects various due process claims, is narrowly written so Clark will likely not be a due process watershed ruling.  Indeed, what I find most interesting about Clark is how the votes and opinions shake out as compared to cases in the Apprendi–Blakely line.

Intriguingly, Justice Souter authored Clark and he brought along Justices Scalia and Thomas from the Blakely five (as well the newbie Justices) in an opinion that is functional, relatively narrow, and emphasizes the importance of the “State chosen standard[s].”   Meanwhile, Justice Kennedy authors a strong dissent, joined by Justices Stevens and Ginsburg, which accuses the majority of “fail[ing] to appreciate the implications for Winship.”  Winship, of course, is the key due process ruling clarifying the import and reach of the requirement that prosecutors prove elements of an offense beyond a reasonable doubt.

I am not sure what all this might means for the big Blakely cases on the horizon (perhaps nothing), but it confirms my view that, outside the death penalty context, the traditional liberal/conservative labels and expectations are hard to square with the actual outcomes in a range of large and small criminal justice cases the Court decides.