More Death in Oregon

Yesterday, the Supreme Court took up the first big controversial case of CJ Roberts's reign, Gonzalez v. Oregon. The issue is whether the Attorney General can yank the DEA drug licenses of doctors who prescribe lethal drugs in accordance with Oregon's Death With Dignity Act. It may not be over anytime soon. As this report from the New York Times points out, the court looks to be very evenly divided with, guess who, O'Connor as a possible swing vote. If her replacement is confirmed before a decision is made, the 4-4 split may prompt the Court to have another round of oral arguments. Of course, it might not be that close in the end, anyway.

In another commentary on the argument, Tom Goldstein over at SCOTUSBlog has this interesting note after watching Roberts in action:

Note to Rick Garnett and other states-rights conservatives: told you so; the federalism "revolution" was actually more of a "petty insurrection" and George Bush has now officially put it down with the change from Rehnquist to Roberts. Sorry

Suppose Scalia cries himself to sleep at night listening to "La Resistance Lives On" from this fine piece of satire.

And finally, for a more personal perspective on what's at stake, see this commentary in Tuesday's USA Today by the wife of a man who used the Death With Dignity Act to, well, die with dignity.