Today in Supreme Court History: December 15

Heien v. North Carolina, 574 U.S. 54 (decided December 15, 2014): police can stop you for something they think is illegal but actually isn’t (here, broken brake light, not an offense under state law; upon consensual search of car they found cocaine)

Altria Group v. Good, 555 U.S. 70 (decided December 15, 2008): Maine statute prohibiting false advertising as to cigarettes (here, one brand falsely alleged it had less “tar” and nicotine than another) not preempted by federal statute prohibiting restrictions on advertising of cigarettes which are properly labeled as to health dangers

General Electric Co. v. Joiner, 522 U.S. 136 (decided December 15, 1997): trial court’s rulings as to admitting expert testimony (here, as to whether exposure to PCBs “promoted” plaintiff’s cancer) are reviewed as to abuse of discretion (this is the traditional standard, now being applied in the context of the guidelines announced in Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 1993)