Next week's criminal law/procedure arguments

Issue summaries are from ScotusBlog, which also links to briefs and opinions below:

Monday, Feb. 28

• DePierre v. US: Whether a federal sentencing enhancement for possession of fifty grams or more of “cocaine base” refers to any form of cocaine that is chemically classified as a base (which could include coca leave or paste), or instead is limited to crack cocaine.

Wednesday, March 2

• Bullcoming v. New Mexico: When the prosecution introduces a forensic evidence report, it ordinarily must bring the author of the report to the trial so the defendant can question him. Is it sufficient for the prosecution to bring the analyst’s supervisor, when the supervisor did not actually perform or witness the forensic tests?
• Ashcroft v. al-Kidd: Whether former Attorney General John Ashcroft is immune from a suit alleging that he used the federal material witness statute as a pretext to investigate and preventatively detain terrorism suspects in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001.