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Class v. United States

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
16-424 D.C. Cir. Oct 4, 2017 Feb 21, 2018 6-3 Breyer OT 2017

Holding: A guilty plea, by itself, does not bar a federal criminal defendant from challenging the constitutionality of the statute of conviction on direct appeal.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 6-3, in an opinion by Justice Breyer on February 21, 2018. Justice Alito filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Kennedy and Thomas joined.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Sep 30 2016Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 31, 2016)
Oct 27 2016Order extending time to file response to petition to and including November 30, 2016.
Nov 16 2016Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including December 20, 2016.
Dec 20 2016Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
Jan 03 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 19, 2017.
Jan 03 2017Reply of petitioner Rodney Class filed. (Distributed)
Feb 06 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 17, 2017.
Feb 21 2017Petition GRANTED.
Mar 15 2017The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including May 12, 2017.
Mar 15 2017The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including July 17, 2017.
May 12 2017Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs received.)
May 12 2017Brief of petitioner Rodney Class filed.
May 12 2017Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party from counsel for the petitioner.
May 19 2017Brief amici curiae of The National Association of Criminal Lawyers, et al. filed.
May 19 2017Brief amicus curiae of Albert W. Alschuler filed.
May 19 2017Brief amicus curiae of The Innocence Project filed.
Jul 17 2017Brief of respondent United States filed.
Jul 19 2017SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, October 4, 2017.
Aug 01 2017Record requested from the U.S.C.A. District of Columbia Circuit.
Aug 09 2017CIRCULATED
Aug 16 2017Reply of petitioner Rodney Class filed. (Distributed)
Oct 04 2017Argued. For petitioner: Jessica R. Amunson, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Eric J. Feigin, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Feb 21 2018Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Breyer, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Kennedy and Thomas, JJ., joined.
Mar 26 2018JUDGMENT ISSUED.