Argument dates set; can football be far behind?

ScotusBlog reports on the Court's calendar for oral arguments for the opening session of the coming Term. Arguments of note to crim law/procedure folks (issue summaries from ScotusBlog):

Monday, Oct. 4

• Abbott v. U.S. (09-479) and Gould v. U.S. (09-7073) — validity of added five-year gun crime sentence on top of mandatory sentence for underlying crime.  (Consolidated, one hour for argument)

Tuesday, Oct. 5

• Michigan v. Bryant (09-150) — constitutionality of using as evidence a wounded crime victim’s out-of-court statement to police
• Los Angeles County v. Humphries (09-350) — local government liability for violation of individual rights

Tuesday, Oct. 12

• Harrington v. Richter (09-587) — defense lawyer duty to call expert witness to counter prosecution’s physical evidence; also, scope of federal court deference to state court
• Premo v. Moore (09-658) — standard for federal habeas courts in reviewing failure of defense lawyer to challenge client’s confession to crime  (This case was formerly titled Belleque v. Moore)
• Connick v. Thompson (09-571) — local government liability for prosecutor’s failure to share evidence favorable to the defense

Wednesday, Oct. 13

• Skinner v. Switzer (09-9000) — access to federal court to seek evidence for DNA testing to prove claim of innocence