Breaking News

Lockhart v. United States

Share
Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
14-8358 2d Cir. Nov 3, 2015 Mar 1, 2016 6-2 Sotomayor OT 2015

Holding: A state-court conviction for first-degree sexual abuse involving the defendant’s adult girlfriend triggers the ten-year mandatory minimum sentence of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(b)(2), which applies to prior state-court convictions for crimes “relating to aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, or abusive sexual conduct involving a minor or ward”; the limiting phrase “involving a minor or ward” applies only to the phrase “abusive sexual conduct.”

Judgment: Affirmed, 6-2, in an opinion by Justice Sotomayor on March 1, 2016. Justice Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Breyer joined.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Jan 14 2015Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due March 11, 2015)
Mar 3 2015Order extending time to file response to petition to and including April 10, 2015.
Apr 10 2015Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
Apr 28 2015Reply of petitioner Avondale Lockhart filed. (Distributed)
Apr 29 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 14, 2015.
May 18 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 21, 2015.
May 26 2015Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED.
Jun 23 2015The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including July 24, 2015.
Jun 23 2015The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including September 8, 2015.
Jul 24 2015Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs received.)
Jul 24 2015Brief of petitioner Avondale Lockhart filed.
Sep 8 2015Brief of respondent United States filed.
Sep 9 2015SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, November 3, 2015
Sep 10 2015Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit.
Sep 11 2015Record request received from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit is electronic.
Sep 21 2015CIRCULATED
Oct 8 2015Reply of petitioner Avondale Lockhart filed. (Distributed)
Nov 3 2015Argued. For petitioner: Edward S. Zas, Assistant Federal Defender, New York, N. Y. For respondent: Ann O'Connell, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Mar 1 2016Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, and Alito, JJ., joined. Kagan, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Breyer, J., joined.
Apr 4 2016JUDGMENT ISSUED