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Molina-Martinez v. United States

Docket No.14-8913
Op. Below5th Cir.
ArgumentJan 12, 2016

Holding

Courts reviewing use of an incorrect Federal Sentencing Guidelines range cannot apply a categorical "additional evidence" rule requiring a showing that use of the incorrect range affected a defendant's sentence in cases in which a district court applied an incorrect range but sentenced the defendant within the correct range.

Judgment

Reversed and remanded, 8-0, in an opinion by Anthony McLeod Kennedy on Apr 20, 2016. Justice Alito filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Thomas joined.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Mar 16, 2015
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due April 17, 2015)
Apr 8, 2015
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including May 18, 2015.
Apr 24, 2015
Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including June 18, 2015.
Jun 10, 2015
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
Jun 11, 2015
Reply of petitioner Saul Molina-Martinez filed.
Jun 25, 2015
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015.
Oct 1, 2015
Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED.
Nov 16, 2015
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Nov 16, 2015
Brief of petitioner Saul Molina-Martinez filed.
Nov 24, 2015
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Dec 4, 2015
Record requested from U.S.C.A. 5th Circuit.
Dec 15, 2015
CIRCULATED.
Dec 16, 2015
Brief of respondent United States filed. (Distributed)
Jan 4, 2016
Reply of petitioner Saul Molina-Martinez filed. (Distributed)
Jan 12, 2016
Argued. For petitioner: Timothy Crooks, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Houston, Tex. For respondent: Scott A.C. Meisler, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Jan 19, 2016
Record from the U.S.D.C. Southern District of Texas is electronic and also received in hard copy. (1 Envelope)
Apr 20, 2016
Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Kennedy, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas, J., joined.
May 23, 2016
JUDGMENT ISSUED

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