The U.S. Supreme Court has handed down several rulings in recent weeks related to voting rights, a suspect’s right to remain silent and the use of DNA testing following an arrest. More rulings are expected in the coming days dealing with race and college 
UT V. FISHER/COLLEGE ADMISSIONS
The decision will have far-reaching implications for university admissions policies and racial demographics in schools throughout the United States.
Peter Linzer: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/print.asp?PID=22
Michael Olivas: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/print.asp?PID=31 Please contact Carrie Criado, 713-743-2184, cacriado@central.uh.edu; or John T. Kling, 713-743-8298, jtkling@central.uh.edu or Marisa Ramirez, 713-743-8152, mrcannon@uh.edu to schedule an interview with Professor Olivas.
David Crump: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=9
Ronald Turner: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=44
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
The Supreme Court is preparing to issue two historic decisions on gay marriage this month—one case involves the Defense of Marriage Act and at the center of the other case is Proposition 8, the California constitutional amendment that outlawed same-sex marriage.
Aaron Bruhl: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=3839
Thomas Oldham: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=30
Geoffrey Hoffman: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=1586
VOTING RIGHTS
The Supreme Court ruled this week that an Arizona state law may not require documentary proof of citizenship from voters. SCOTUS concluded that this is at odds with federal law that allows voters to register by swearing on a federal form under penalty of perjury that they are citizens.
Geoffrey Hoffman: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=1586
Peter Linzer: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/print.asp?PID=22
David Crump: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=9
MIRANDA AND THE RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT
Prosecutors can use a suspect’s silence during informal police questioning as evidence of guilt at a subsequent trial, the US Supreme Court ruled this week in a 5-4 decision.
Sandra Guerra Thompson: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/print.asp?PID=15
DNA SWABS
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ruled criminal suspects can be subjected to a police DNA test after arrest — before trial and conviction.
Peter Linzer: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/print.asp?PID=22
David Crump: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=9
PATENTING GENES
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision on June 13, ruled that companies cannot patent human genes, a decision with broad ramifications for research companies and the general public.
Barbara Evans and Sapna Kumar http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/faculty-experts/2013-0613Scotus.asp
IMMIGRATION
Sweeping immigration legislation is moving toward a vote in the Senate. Proposed by a bipartisan group of eight senators, the bill proposes to overhaul the country’s immigration system and is considered the most sweeping attempt to reform the nation’s immigration policy in 26 years.
Michael Olivas: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/print.asp?PID=31 Please contact Carrie Criado, 713-743-2184, cacriado@central.uh.edu; or John T. Kling, 713-743-8298, jtkling@central.uh.edu or Marisa Ramirez, 713-743-8152, mrcannon@uh.edu to schedule an interview with Professor Olivas.
Geoffrey Hoffman: http://www.law.uh.edu/faculty/main.asp?PID=1586
THE SUPREME COURT & THE CLIMATE ON THE BENCH
Professors Lydia Tiede and Robert Carp both teach constitutional law and society and can speak to the climate on the bench ahead of its many decisions this term.
Lydia Tiede: https://sites.google.com/site/ltiede/home
Robert Carp: Http://www.uh.edu/class/political-science/faculty-and-staff/professors/carp/index.php