Tuesday, January 13, 2009

SCOTUS dockets pro se IFP military cert petition

The Supreme Court has docketed another pro se IFP cert petition in a military justice case. Robertson v. United States, No. 08-8095. CAAF summarily granted and affirmed in the case. United States v. Robertson, 67 M.J. 14 (C.A.A.F. 2008) (summary disposition). ACCA's web site's opinion links are currently inoperative, so I don't yet know whether ACCA's opinion is online.

1 comment:

Dew_Process said...

The Court received the Petition on 27 October 2008. The fact that it was just docketed means that since it was a pro se pleading, the Clerks worked with the Petitioner to perfect the pleadings.

It's unconscionable imho, that he didn't have the "assistance of appellate counsel" who had been representing him all along. Unless it's a patently frivilous petition, the "appearance" of justice is an illusion and the duty of a lawyer to his/her client, should have some meaning.

I don't know the facts or circumstances for sure, but this is a perception in SCOTUS's eyes that the military really doesn't care.