context: The Supreme Court has held that the decision to deviate from the general rule is a matter "left primarily to the discretion of the courts of appeals, to be exercised on the facts of individual cases." Moreover, the Supreme Court has long recognized that we should not decide constitutional questions when their resolution is unnecessary to the outcome of the case.
citation_a.signal: see also
citation_a.identifier: 271 F.3d 670, 687
citation_a.parenthetical: noting that "where possible, a court should rule on a narrow ground in order to avoid a constitutional question."
citation_a.sentence: See also Bejjani v. INS, 271 F.3d 670, 687 (2002) (noting that “where possible, a court should rule on a narrow ground in order to avoid a constitutional question.”)
citation_b.signal: no signal
citation_b.parenthetical: noting the "custom of avoiding decision of constitutional issues unnecessary to the decision of the case before us."
citation_b.sentence: Alexander v. Louisiana, 405 U.S. 625, 633, 92 S.Ct. 1221, 31 L.Ed.2d 536 (1972) (noting the “custom of avoiding decision of constitutional issues unnecessary to the decision of the case before us.”).