DePierre v. United States

Holding: For purposes of a statute establishing mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses involving cocaine base, the term cocaine base includes all cocaine in its chemically basic form, not just crack cocaine.

Plain English Holding: A federal sentencing statute requiring high mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses involving cocaine base applies to all kinds of cocaine, not just crack cocaine.

Judgment: Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Sonia Sotomayor on June 9, 2011. Justice Scalia did not join Part III-A of the opinion; he also filed a separate opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment.

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Frantz DePierre
• Brief for Respondent United States of America
• Reply Brief of Petitioner
  

Amicus Briefs

• Brief for Individual Physicians and Scientists and Robert Booth, Ph.D, et al. in Support of Petitioner

Certiorari-stage documents

• Opinion below (1st Circuit)
• Petition for certiorari (unavailable)
• Brief in opposition (unavailable)
• Petitioner's reply (unavailable)