Mathis v. United States
| Docket No. | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-6092 | Apr 26, 2016 | May 2, 2025 | 5-3 | Kagan | OT 2015 |
Holding: The Armed Career Criminal Act imposes a fifteen-year mandatory minimum sentence on a defendant convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm who also has three prior state or federal convictions "for a violent felony," including "burglary, arson, or extortion." Because the elements of Iowa"s burglary law " which applies to "any building, structure, [or] land, water, or air vehicle" " is broader than those of generic "burglary" " which requires unlawful entry into a "building or other structure" " prior convictions under the Iowa burglary law cannot give rise to a sentence enhancement under the ACCA.
Judgment: Reversed, 5-3, in an opinion by Justice Kagan on May 2, 2025. Justice Kennedy and Justice Thomas filed concurring opinions. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined. Justice Alito filed a dissenting opinion.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Victory for the categorical approach in immigration and federal criminal sentencing but for how long? (Evan Lee, June 24, 2016)
- Argument analysis: The Justices continue to struggle with the modified categorical approach (Evan Lee, April 27, 2016)
- Argument preview: Growing pains in the mass incarceration and deportation movements (Evan Lee, April 19, 2016)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 09/15/2015 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due October 19, 2015) |
| 10/14/2015 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including November 18, 2015. |
| 11/16/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including December 18, 2015. |
| 12/17/2015 | Brief of respondent United States filed. |
| 12/30/2015 | Supplemental brief of respondent United States filed. |
| 12/31/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 15, 2016. |
| 01/19/2016 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. |
| 02/22/2016 | Brief of petitioner Richard Mathis filed. |
| 02/22/2016 | Joint appendix filed. |
| 02/29/2016 | Brief amici curiae of National Association of Federal Defenders, et al. filed. |
| 02/29/2016 | Brief amici curiae of American Immigration Lawyers Association, et al. filed. |
| 03/04/2016 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, April 26, 2016 |
| 03/14/2016 | Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. |
| 03/15/2016 | CIRCULATED. |
| 03/23/2016 | Record received from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. (1 Box) |
| 03/23/2016 | Brief of respondent United States filed. (Distributed) |
| 03/29/2016 | Brief amicus curiae of Immigration Reform Law Institute filed. (Distributed) |
| 04/15/2016 | Reply of petitioner Richard Mathis filed. (Distributed) |
| 04/26/2016 | Argued. For petitioner: Mark C. Fleming, Boston, Mass. For respondent: Nicole A. Saharsky, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| 06/23/2016 | Judgment REVERSED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Thomas, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Kennedy, J., and Thomas, J., filed concurring opinions. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, J., joined. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion. |
| 07/25/2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |
| 08/18/2016 | Record from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit has been returned. |