Today in Supreme Court History: September 9

McGee v. Alaska, 104 S.Ct. 16 (decided September 9, 1983): Rehnquist denies prisoner’s request to be released on bail even though the prosecuting authority (State of Alaska) has agreed to it; this was a federal law habeas application and the federal court decides for itself whether to grant release or bail; also he does not believe cert would be granted (McGee had already been released on bail until his state appeals were exhausted, then went back into prison to serve out his sentence; see his later motion to modify sentence, 1985 WL 1077956 (Alaska Oct. 30, 1985))