by Mark Rhoads
Federal courts are already burdened with many drug cases that should have been heard in state courts. But the U.S. Supreme Court can choose for itself what cases it wants to hear. In theory, the high court is not supposed to re-try issues of fact but only review the decisions of lower courts at the frontier boundary of constitutional law. So when the high court wastes its own time on trivia,the justices have only themselves to blame.
For example, what Earth-shsking anti- trust law principle needs to be setteled in this case? I guess team logos are now on the frontier of the law?
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether the National Football League and its 32 teams can enter an exclusive licensing deal with a maker of team jerseys and other gear without violating federal antitrust law.
The court said it will hear an appeal from American Needle Inc., of Buffalo Grove, Ill., that challenges an agreement the NFL struck with Reebok International Ltd. American Needle had been one of many firms that manufactured NFL headgear until the league granted an exclusive contract to Reebok in 2001.
The NFL won the case in the federal appeals court in Chicago. But it also asked the Supreme Court to hear the case in a quest for a more sweeping decision that could put an end to what the league considers costly, frivolous antitrust lawsuits.
The case concerns whether the league is essentially a "single entity" that can act collectively or 32 distinct businesses that must be careful about running afoul of antitrust laws by working too closely together.
