Still considering cert, SCOTUS orders additional letter briefing in method-of-execution case out of Missouri

As noted here, the US Supreme Court had fully briefed last November a set of notable questions about how modern Eighth Amendment method-of-execution claims are to be properly resolved.  The Justices considered Johnson v. Precythe, No. 20-287, a case emerging from Missouri, at numerous conferences before today finally having this interesting direction on its order list:

JOHNSON, ERNEST V. PRECYTHE, ANNE L., ET AL.

The parties are directed to file supplemental letter briefs addressing the following question: Given that the District Court dismissed without prejudice, would petitioner be barred from filing a new complaint that proposes the firing squad as the alternative method of execution?  Petitioner’s brief, not to exceed 5 pages, is to be filed with the Clerk and served upon opposing counsel on or before Monday, April 12, 2021.

Respondents’ brief, not to exceed 5 pages, is to be filed with the Clerk and served upon opposing counsel on or before Monday, April 26, 2021.

Sounds like the Court may be looking for an easy way to boot this case, but perhaps folks with more experience with this intricate universe of litigation may be able to read more (or less) into this order than just that.

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