Re: Why a per curiam

[Marty Lederman]

Actually, the Court issued that summary reversal back on October 20th, as we (i.e., Tom Goldstein) had earlier predicted on SCOTUSBlog, http://www.goldsteinhowe.com/blog/archive/2003_10_12_SCOTUSblog.cfm#106615717807198454 (a prediction based in part on the fact that the case had twice been relisted for conference).     ----- Original Message ----- From: Sanford Levinson To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, October 31, 2003 3:48 PM Subject: Re: Why a per curiam The Court's first opinion of the term was released today: Yarborough v. Gentry (http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/02pdf/02-1597.pdf ) - decision concerning effective assistance of counsel in a criminal case. It's an 11-page per curiam opinion.  I'm curious if anyone with more experience than I has any speculation why they adopted the "per curiam" form rather than having a judge take individualized responsibility for the opinion? sandy