Dear Defender:
The Court has had a busy start to 2001. First, the Court granted cert this past Monday in another Fourth Amendment case arising out of Florida, this onedirectly challenging Belton v. New York. The case is Florida v. Thomas, No. 00-391, ___ S. Ct. _____, 2001 WL 12414 (Jan. 8, 2001) (whether warrantless
search of vehicle, incident to arrest of vehicle's driver that occurred after driver had voluntarily left vehicle, is valid absent threat to officer safety
or necessity of preserving evidence) (case below: 761 So.2d 1010 (Fla.1999).
The Court also issued opinions in three cases on Tuesday and Wednesday:
Fiore v. White, No. 98-942, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 15674 (Jan. 9, 2001) (following answer of question certified to Pennsylvania Supreme court, holding that conviction and continued incarceration of defendant based on conduct that state statute, as properly interpreted, did not prohibit, violated due process) (per curiam).
Glover v. United States, No. 99-8576, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 15331 (Jan. 9, 2001) (increase in prison sentence of 6-21 months constitutes prejudice required for establishing ineffective assistance, assuming that increase resulted from error in Sentencing Guidelines determination) (9-0).
Lopez v. Davis, No. 99-7504, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 20545 (Jan. 10, 2001) (Bureau of Prisons has discretion, under governing statute, to promulgate regulation categorically denying early release to prisoners whose felonies involved use of a firearm) (6-3)
Finally, the Court has granted cert, vacated the judgment, and remanded eight
more federal cases (all drugs) and one state case in light of Apprendi. They
are listed by circuit, with the state case at the end:
Thomas v. United States, No. 99-9541, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12399 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: 204 F.3d 381 (2d Cir. 2000)
Carrington v. United States, No. 99-10250, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12401(Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: unpublished, No. 99-4537, 213 F.3d 634 ( 4th Cir. Apr. 21, 2000), text in Westlaw, 2000 WL 429715))
Castro v. United States, No. 00-6427, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12407 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: unpublished, No. 97-50590, 229 F.3d 1159 (9th Cir. July 6, 2000)), text in Westlaw, 2000 WL 898734)
Magana v. United States, No. 00-6474, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12410 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: unpublished, No. 98-10487, 229 F.3d 1160 (9th Cir. July 6, 2000)), text in Westlaw, 2000 WL 964591)
Ardley v. United States, No. 00-6187, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12404 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: unpublished, No. 98-7033, 202 F.3d 287 (11th Cir. Nov. 18, 1999))
Cloud v. United States, No. 99-9965, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12400 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: unpublished, No. 99-11391, 211 F.3d 599 (11th Cir. Mar. 24, 2000))
Garcia v. United States, No. 00-463, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12402 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: 208 F.3d 1258 (11th Cir. 2000))
Hayes v. United States, No. 00-5703, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12403 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: unpublished, No. 98-3869, 212 F.3d 598 (11th Cir. Mar. 31, 2000))
McCloud v. Florida, No. 00-6289, ___ S. Ct. ____, 2001 WL 12406 (Jan. 8, 2001) (case below: 741 So. 2d 512 (Fla. App. 1999)) (defendant convicted of burglary of dwelling, sexual battery, and commission of lewd and lascivious act in presence of minor)