New CVRA circuit filing in big environmental case

Anyone interested in crime victims rights and the scope and application of the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act will want to keep a close eye on the high-profile environmental case involving the the criminal trial of W.R. Grace in Montana.  As detailed in this post, titled “Who Are “Victims” of Environmental Crimes? Ninth Circuit Fight Brewing in the W.R. Grace Prosecution,” former federal judge Paul Cassell is taking to the Ninth Circuit this mandamus petition arguing that the district court unduly limited the reach of who qualifies as a victim under the CVRA.

As regular readers know, the the Crime Victims’ Rights Act calls upon the court of appeals to “take up and decide such application forthwith within 72 hours after the petition has been filed.”  In other words, it would appear that the Ninth Circuit has to rule on this matter before the end of this week!