Law v. Siegel
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-5196 | 9th Cir. | Jan 13, 2014 | Mar 4, 2014 | 9-0 | Scalia | OT 2013 |
Holding: The bankruptcy court exceeded its authority when it ordered that a debtor’s exempt assets be used to pay administrative expenses incurred as a result of the debtor’s misconduct.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Scalia on March 4, 2014.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Justices stick with Bankruptcy Code text, rejecting Ninth Circuit’s creative punishment of lying bankrupt (Ronald Mann, March 4, 2014)
- Argument recap: Justices find little sympathy for lying bankrupt (Ronald Mann, January 15, 2014)
- Argument preview: Justices assess penalties for lying bankrupt (Ronald Mann, January 10, 2014)
- Solicitor General files invitation briefs for June 13 Conference (Amy Howe, May 24, 2013)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Jul 5 2012 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due August 13, 2012) |
| Aug 23 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 24, 2012. |
| Sep 17 2012 | Response Requested . (Due October 17, 2012) |
| Oct 17 2012 | Response to petition from respondent Alfred H. Siegel, Chapter 7 Trustee filed. |
| Oct 30 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 20, 2012. |
| Nov 26 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 30, 2012. |
| Nov 29 2012 | Reply of petitioner Stephen Law filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 3 2012 | The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States. |
| May 14 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. |
| May 28 2013 | Supplemental brief of petitioner Stephen Law filed. |
| May 29 2013 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 13, 2013. |
| Jun 17 2013 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. |
| Jul 3 2013 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 27, 2013. |
| Jul 3 2013 | The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including October 22, 2013. |
| Aug 27 2013 | Joint appendix filed (1 volume and supplemental volume.) |
| Aug 27 2013 | Brief of petitioner Stephen Law filed. |
| Sep 3 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Bankruptcy Law Scholars filed. |
| Sep 3 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of G. Eric Brunstad, Jr. filed. |
| Sep 3 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys filed. |
| Oct 22 2013 | Brief of respondent Alfred H. Siegel, Chapter 7 Trustee filed. |
| Oct 29 2013 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. |
| Oct 29 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. |
| Oct 29 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees filed. |
| Oct 29 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Chapter Thirteen Trustees filed. |
| Nov 4 2013 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, January 13, 2014. |
| Nov 5 2013 | CIRCULATED |
| Nov 18 2013 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. |
| Nov 21 2013 | Reply of petitioner Stephen Law filed. (Distributed) |
| Nov 25 2013 | Record received from U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Ninth Circuit. (1Box) |
| Jan 13 2014 | Argued. For petitioner: Matthew S. Hellman, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Neal Katyal, Washington, D. C.; and Sarah E. Harrington, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) |
| Mar 4 2014 | Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Scalia, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. |
| Apr 7 2014 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |
| Apr 8 2014 | Record from U.S. Bankruptcy Appellate Panel 9th Circuit, has been returned. |
