Use of the sedative midazolam for lethal injections does not violate the Eighth Amendment, despite claims that it cannot reliably render an inmate unconscious before administering the lethal drugs.
S. Alito
Obergefell v. Hodges, No. 14–556, __ U.S. __ (June 28, 2015).
Same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.
Ohio v. Clark, No. 13-1352, ___ U.S. ___ (June 18, 2015).
Three-year-old’s report of abuse to his preschool teachers was not testimonial hearsay, and therefore did not violate Confrontation Clause when admitted at trial. Neither the child—nor the teachers, despite their mandatory reporting obligations—had the “primary purpose” to create substitute for trial testimony or assist in prosecuting defendant, but rather to respond to ongoing child-abuse emergency by identifying and ending the threat to the child.
Elonis v. United States, No. 13-983, 575 U.S. ___ (June 1, 2015).
Federal crime of transmitting threats in interstate or foreign commerce, 18 U.S.C. § 875(c), requires some heightened awareness that the communication will be perceived as threatening; mere negligence on that point is insufficient.
Rodriguez v. United States, No. 13-9972, __ U.S. __ (April 21, 2015).
Fourth Amendment does not allow police to extend duration of a traffic stop, even for a “de minimis” time period, for reasons unrelated the matter for which the stop was made.