EXPERT COMMENT FOR  PENDING  U.S. SUPREME COURT RULINGS

from the University of Pennsylvania Law School

Whether the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines are unconstitutional because they allow a judge to increase a sentence based on issues that were never presented to a jury

Paul Robinson, professor of law

Areas of expertise: Criminal law, criminal code reform, criminal sentencing.  He is the former commissioner (1986-88) of the U.S. Sentencing Commission.

Whether the Constitution prohibits the death penalty for crimes committed by juveniles

Stephen Morse, professor of law and psychology

Areas of expertise: Criminal law, mental health law

Whether Ten Commandment displays should be allowed on publicly owned lands and buildings

Kermit Roosevelt, professor of law

Areas of expertise: Constitutional law, conflict of laws, federalism

Whether the government can use the power of eminent domain to take property that's not blighted and turn it over to a private developer for a project aimed at increasing local tax revenue

Wendell Pritchett, professor of law

Areas of expertise: Property law, urban policy

Whether police can use an investigatory technique such as a drug-sniffing dog during a routine traffic stop when there are no grounds to suspect any other wrongdoing

David Rudovsky, professor of law

Areas of expertise: Criminal law, police powers, police misconduct

Whether the federal government or local or state governments have authority over the medical use of marijuana in states authorizing its use for that purpose

Kermit Roosevelt, professor of law

Areas of expertise: Constitutional law, conflict of laws, federalism