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Betterman v. Montana

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
14-1457 Mont. Mar 28, 2016 May 19, 2016 8-0 Ginsburg OT 2015

Holding: The Sixth Amendment's speedy trial guarantee does not apply once a defendant has been found guilty at trial or has pleaded guilty to criminal charges.

Judgment: Affirmed, 8-0, in an opinion by Justice Ginsburg on May 19, 2016. Justice Thomas filed a concurring opinion, in which Justice Alito joined. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Apr 21 2015Application (14A1084) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 11, 2015 to June 10, 2015, submitted to Justice Kennedy.
Apr 23 2015Application (14A1084) granted by Justice Kennedy extending the time to file until June 10, 2015.
Jun 10 2015Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 13, 2015)
Jul 2 2015Waiver of right of respondent Montana to respond filed.
Jul 15 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015.
Aug 17 2015Response Requested . (Due September 16, 2015)
Sep 11 2015Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 16, 2015.
Oct 16 2015Brief of respondent Montana in opposition filed.
Nov 2 2015Reply of petitioner Brandon Thomas Betterman filed.
Nov 4 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 24, 2015.
Nov 30 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 4, 2015.
Dec 4 2015Petition GRANTED.
Jan 19 2016Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Jan 19 2016Brief of petitioner Brandon Thomas Betterman filed.
Jan 26 2016Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.
Jan 29 2016SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, March 28, 2016
Feb 2 2016Record received from the Supreme Court of Montana. (1 Envelope)
Feb 5 2016Record received from U.S.D.C. Montana Second Judicial District. (1 Envelope)
Feb 18 2016Brief of respondent Montana filed.
Feb 23 2016CIRCULATED.
Feb 25 2016Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. (Distributed)
Feb 25 2016Brief amici curiae of Indiana, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Feb 25 2016Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Mar 7 2016Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Mar 15 2016Reply of petitioner Brandon Thomas Betterman filed. (Distributed)
Mar 28 2016Argued. For petitioner: Fred A. Rowley, Jr., Los Angeles, Cal. For respondent: Dale Schowengerdt, Solicitor General, Helena, Mont.; and Ginger D. Anders, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
May 19 2016Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Ginsburg, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Alito, J., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion.
Jun 20 2016JUDGMENT ISSUED
Jun 20 2016MANDATE ISSUED
Jul 26 2016Records from Supreme Court of Montana has been returned.