Another notable SCOTUS sentencing week

Even though shortened by the observance of Columbus Day, this week brings the Supreme Court more sentencing issues.  On Tuesday, the Court will hear oral argument in Watson v. United States (06-571).  The previews provided by this article in the Christian Science Monitor and this summary at the SCOTUSwiki spotlight that the case centers on the application of a surprisingly common federal sentencing enhancement based on bartering guns for drugs.

On Wednesday, the Court will hear oral argument in Medellin v. Texas (06-984). The previews provided by these pieces assembled at How Appealing and this summary at the SCOTUSwiki spotlight that this case creates strange bedfellows in the intersection of international law and the death penalty.

In addition, Tuesday morning could also bring a few new cert grants.  Even without any new criminal cases, this Term is shaping up to be marked by major sentencing rulings.  A couple more major grants and we might have the sentencing Term of the century (which is saying a lot even though the century is not yet that old).

Some related posts:

• A big SCOTUS sentencing Term in the works?
• Serious SCOTUS sentencing fun soon to begin
• Baze lethal injection case index
• Gall reasonableness case index
• Kimbrough reasonableness case index
• A fitting take on SCOTUS sentencing cases fit to be tied