JUAN VELAZQUEZ v. ARIZONA (2008)

     The petition for a writ of certiorari is denied.

     Statement of Justice Stevens respecting the denial of the petition for certiorari.

     While I agree with the Court's decision to deny certiorari in this case, it is appropriate to emphasize, as I have in the past, see, e.g., Knight v. Florida, 528 U. S. 990 (1999) (opinion respecting denial of certiorari); Singleton v. Commissioner, 439 U. S. 940, 942 (1978) (same), that the denial of certiorari expresses no opinion on the merits of the underlying claim.