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Hillman v. Maretta

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Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
11-1221 Va. S. Ct. Apr 22, 2013 Jun 3, 2013 9-0 Sotomayor OT 2012

Holding: The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Act (FEGLIA), which establishes a life insurance program for federal employees, allows an employee to designate a beneficiary to receive the proceeds of the policy when the employee dies. That law preempts a Virginia law that allows the family of a deceased employee to sue the designated beneficiary for the proceeds if the beneficiary happens to be the employee’s former spouse.

Judgment: Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Sotomayor on June 3, 2013. Justice Scalia joins the opinion except as to footnote 4. Justice Thomas and Justice Alito filed opinions concurring in the judgment.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Apr 11 2012Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 14, 2012)
Apr 18 2012Order extending time to file response to petition to and including May 31, 2012.
May 18 2012Brief of respondent Judy A. Maretta in opposition filed.
May 29 2012DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 14, 2012.
May 29 2012Reply of petitioner Jacqueline Hillman filed. (Distributed)
Jun 18 2012The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
Dec 14 2012Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
Dec 14 2012Letter proposing a lodging of the government's group life insurance contract with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company received from the Solicitor General.
Dec 26 2012DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 11, 2013.
Jan 11 2013Petition GRANTED.
Feb 11 2013SET FOR ARGUMENT ON MONDAY, April 22, 2013
Feb 22 2013Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Feb 22 2013Brief of petitioner Jacqueline Hillman filed. (Distributed)
Mar 1 2013CIRCULATED.
Mar 7 2013Record received from Supreme Court of Virginia. (1 Box)
Mar 25 2013Brief of respondent Judy A. Maretta filed (Reprinted). (Distributed)
Apr 1 2013Brief amicus curiae of Association of Federal Health Organizations filed. (Distributed)
Apr 1 2013Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Apr 1 2013Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. (Distributed)
Apr 12 2013Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Apr 15 2013Reply of petitioner Jacqueline Hillman filed. (Distributed)
Apr 22 2013Argued. For petitioner: Daniel H. Ruttenberg, Vienna, Va. For respondent: Steffen N. Johnson, Washington, D. C.; and Elaine J. Goldenberg, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
Jun 3 2013Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan, JJ., joined, and in which Scalia, J., joined as to all but footnote 4. Thomas, J., and Alito, J., filed opinions concurring in the judgment.
Jul 5 2013MANDATE ISSUED.
Jul 5 2013Record returned to Supreme Court of Virginia.