Cite as: 553 U. S. ____ (2008) 1 Statement of STEVENS, J.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES JUAN VELAZQUEZ v. ARIZONA ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT OF ARIZONA No. 07–8946. Decided April 21, 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 certio- rari 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.