SUPREME COURT NOTEBOOK

Court throws out storm water runoff ruling WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court has unanimously sided with Los Angeles area governments that are fighting a lawsuit over pollution from urban storm water runoff. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote for the court in a narrow holding Tuesday that the federal appeals court in San Francisco wrongly ruled for environmentalists in their lawsuit against the Los Angeles Flood Control District. At issue is responsibility for billions of gallons of polluted water that flow into the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers, and eventually the Pacific Ocean, after heavy rainfalls. The environmental groups say levels of bacteria from animal feces and toxic metals frequently exceed water quality standards. The suit involved compliance with an older permit regulating water pollution. Ginsburg said a new permit more precisely monitors sources of pollution. Judges cannot indefinitely delay appeals WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court says federal judges cannot indefinitely delay a death row inmate's federal appeals to see if the convict can become mentally competent enough to help his lawyer. The high court unanimously ruled Tuesday against Arizona death row inmate Ernest Gonzales and Ohio death row inmate Sean Carter. Inmates appealing state death sentences to federal court have a right to a lawyer. But the courts never said whether the inmates have to be mentally competent enough to help their lawyers with their federal appeals. Gonzales and Carter wanted the high court to say that federal judges have discretion to hold up proceedings indefinitely until the inmates are ready. Justice Clarence Thomas says "at some point, the state must be allowed to defend its judgment of conviction." Published: Thu, Jan 10, 2013