There is nothing like a good dissent. And this year, the Green Bag Almanac & Reader for 2010 has chosen the following as the best dissents of last year. A previous post, here, provided links to the Green Bag's "best" lead opinions. As before, I've provided a link to the opinion itself and to one of the sites where it can be found.
Alex Kozinski - United States v. Cruz, 554 F. 3d 840 (9th Cir. 2009) That's a good citation but you if you look on the 9th Circuit website you can also find a copy posted here. Kozinski begins beating up Judge Reinhardt at p. 1614. For more on the fireworks ("Reinhard and Kozinski Duke It Out") follow this link to the Volokh Conspiracy blog.
John G. Roberts - Virginia v. Harris, 130 S. Ct. 10 (2009) Since this was an opinion relating to the denial of a Petition for Certiorari, it is found here on the USSC website.
And, the award for the shortest concurring opinion that fully complies with the doctrine of stare decisis must go to David H. Souter in United States v. Navajo Nation, 129 S. Ct. 1547 (2009). The entire concurrence is set out as follows:
JUSTICE SOUTER, with whom JUSTICE STEVENS joins,concurring.
I am not through regretting that my position in United States v. Navajo Nation, 537 U. S. 488, 514–521 (2003) (dissenting opinion), did not carry the day. But it did not, and I agree that the precedent of that case calls for the result reached here.
