Sykes v. United States
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09-11311 | 7th Cir. |
Jan 12, 2011 Tr.Aud. |
Jun 9, 2011 | 6-3 | Kennedy | OT 2010 |
Holding: Using a vehicle while knowingly or intentionally fleeing from a law enforcement officer after being ordered to stop constitutes a “violent felony,†as proscribed by Indiana law, for purposes of the Armed Career Criminal Act, 18 U.S.C. § 924(e).
Judgment: Affirmed, 6-3, in an opinion by Justice Anthony Kennedy on June 9, 2011. Justice Scalia filed a dissenting opinion. Justice Kagan also filed a dissenting opinion, which Justice Ginsburg joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Thursday's opinions in Plain English
- January's arguments: In Plain English
- Argument recap: Court debates which words matter most for applying the Armed Career Criminal Act
- Argument preview: Does fleeing the police in a car qualify as a violent felony to trigger the severe federal sentencing provisions of the Armed Career Criminal Act?
Briefs and Documents
Merits Briefs
- Brief for Petitioner Marcus Sykes
- Brief for Respondent United States of America
- Reply Brief for Petitioner Marcus Sykes





