The Ninth Circuit reached a decision that would have allowed a murderer to go free. The Supreme Court has found that the Ninth Circuit is dumb:
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a federal appeals court had no basis under existing law for overturning a state court ruling that allowed the family members of a murder victim to wear buttons with his picture during the trial. Six members of the Court said it remained an open question whether the conduct of spectators at a trial, as opposed to activities of the prosecution, could be so prejudicial as to deny a fair trial to the accused… Because there was no guidance on this question from the Supreme Court, Thomas concluded, federal habeas law (AEDPA) barred the Ninth Circuit Court from finding that the spectator conduct in Musladin’s trial was outside the bounds of existing law.
And thus was it ever so.
Previously: Dalia Lithwick Mocks The 9th Circuit. Again., Howard Dean Does Not Understand How The Supreme Court Works, Israelis For Kerry, Jews For Kerry, and Israeli Jews for Kerry
