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Liu v. Securities and Exchange Commission

Docket No. Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
18-1501 Mar 3, 2020 Jun 22, 2020 8-1 Sotomayor OT 2019

Holding: In a Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement action, a disgorgement award that does not exceed a wrongdoer"s net profits and is awarded for victims is equitable relief permissible under 15 U.S.C. § 78u(d)(5).

Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 8-1, in an opinion by Justice Sotomayor on June 22, 2020. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
03/22/2019Application (18A958) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from April 3, 2019 to May 31, 2019, submitted to Justice Kagan.
03/22/2019Application (18A958) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until May 31, 2019.
05/31/2019Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 3, 2019)
06/13/2019Waiver of right of respondent Securities and Exchange Commission to respond filed.
06/19/2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/1/2019.
07/05/2019Response Requested. (Due August 5, 2019)
07/31/2019Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 5, 2019 to September 4, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
08/01/2019Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including September 4, 2019.
09/04/2019Brief of respondent Securities and Exchange Commission in opposition filed.
09/18/2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/11/2019.
09/18/2019Reply of petitioners Charles C. Liu, et al. filed. (Distributed)
10/08/2019Rescheduled.
10/15/2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/18/2019.
10/28/2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/1/2019.
11/01/2019Petition GRANTED.
11/19/2019Blanket Consent filed by Petitioners, Charles C. Liu, et al.
11/26/2019SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
12/16/2019Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
12/16/2019Brief of petitioners Charles C. Liu, et al. filed.
12/20/2019Brief amicus curiae of Americans for Prosperity Foundation filed.
12/20/2019Brief amicus curiae of Oak Management Corporation in support of neither party filed.
12/20/2019Brief amicus curiae of Andy Altahawi filed.
12/20/2019Brief amicus curiae of Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association filed.
12/20/2019Brief amicus curiae of New England Legal Foundation filed.
12/23/2019Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America filed.
12/23/2019Brief amicus curiae of Washington Legal Foundation filed.
12/23/2019Brief amici curiae of Law Professors filed.
12/23/2019Brief amici curiae of Parker R. Hallam and Frederick A. Voight filed.
12/23/2019Brief amicus curiae of The New Civil Liberties Alliance filed.
12/23/2019Brief amicus curiae of Cato Institute filed.
12/23/2019Brief amici curiae of Remedies and Restitution Scholars in support of neither party filed.
01/09/2020Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit.
01/09/2020The record of the USCA 9th Circuit is available on PACER. Sealed record material of the USDC Central District of California received electronically.
01/15/2020Brief of respondent Securities and Exchange Commission filed.
01/20/2020Brief amici curiae of Former Federal Trade Commission Officials filed. (Distributed)
01/20/2020Brief amici curiae of Securities Law Professors filed. (Distributed)
01/21/2020CIRCULATED
01/21/2020Brief amici curiae of State of Illinois, et al. filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of Members of Congress filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of Better Markets, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amicus curiae of North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc. filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of Former Commissioners and Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission filed. (Distributed)
02/14/2020Reply of petitioners Charles C. Liu, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/03/2020Argued. For petitioners: Gregory G. Rapawy, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
06/22/2020Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Kagan, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
07/24/2020JUDGMENT ISSUED.