When the Supreme Court began its 177th term last October, most court watchers predicted an important but unspectacular session of setting earlier milestones more firmly in place. Last week, as the term closed in a heavy flurry of decisions (see following stories), it turned out they were right.
The 3,356 cases considered by the court produced only two decisions with any new national sweep: a ruling that juvenile courts must now give accused minors many of the rights that adults have, and last week's eavesdropping decision. Otherwise, criminal defendants made only modest gains. So did prosecutors and police, as the court...
To continue reading:
or
Log-In
