Wendy Lascher Played a Part in the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 9 Decision

Partner Wendy Lascher played a small part in the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 9 decision in Williams v. Pennsylvania, 579 U.S. ___ (2016). Overturning a lower court decision upholding a death sentence, the Supreme Court held, “ … under the Due Process Clause there is an impermissible risk of actual bias when a judge earlier had significant, personal involvement as a prosecutor in a critical decision regarding the defendant’s case.” Lascher drafted a friend of the court brief for the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers arguing that the collegial nature of appellate decision making prohibits participation of a biased judge whether the court is divided or unanimous.

15-5040 Williams v. Pennsylvania amicus

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