McFadden v. United States

Docket No.	Op. Below	Argument	Opinion	Vote	Author	Term
14-378	4th Cir.	Apr 21, 2015 Tr.Aud.	Jun 18, 2015	9-0	Thomas	OT 2014

Disclosure: Goldstein & Russell, P.C., whose attorneys contribute to this blog in various capacities, is among the counsel to the petitioner in this case.

Holding: Section 841(a)(1) of the Controlled Substances Act, which makes it unlawful knowingly to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, requires the government to establish that the defendant knew he was dealing with a substance regulated under the Controlled Substances Act or the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of 1986.

Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Thomas on June 18, 2015. Chief Justice Roberts filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgement.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

Opinion analysis: The required mens rea for federal narcotics offenses is getting clearer (Rory Little)
A “view” from the Courtroom: A bonus day for opinions (Mark Walsh)
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Argument preview: The tricky mens rea requirements for federal narcotics cases (Rory Little)

Date	Proceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Aug 18 2014	Application (14A199) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 15, 2014 to October 14, 2014, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Aug 21 2014	Application (14A199) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until October 14, 2014.
Oct 2 2014	Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 3, 2014)
Oct 30 2014	Order extending time to file response to petition to and including December 3, 2014.
Nov 20 2014	Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including December 15, 2014.
Dec 15 2014	Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. (To be reprinted).
Dec 17 2014	DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 9, 2015.
Dec 19 2014	Reply of petitioner Stephen Dominick McFadden filed. (Distributed)
Jan 12 2015	DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 16, 2015.
Jan 16 2015	Petition GRANTED.
Mar 2 2015	Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
Mar 2 2015	Brief of petitioner Stephen Dominick McFadden filed.
Mar 5 2015	Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Mar 6 2015	SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, April 21, 2015
Mar 9 2015	Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.
Mar 9 2015	Brief amici curiae of Expert Forensic Scientists filed.
Mar 16 2015	CIRCULATED.
Mar 17 2015	Record requested from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit.
Mar 17 2015	Record received from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit is electronic and located on PACER. Also sent electronically from the 4th Circuit a SEALED Appendix.
Apr 1 2015	Brief of respondent the United States filed. (Distributed)
Apr 10 2015	Reply of petitioner Stephen Dominick McFadden filed. (Distributed)
Apr 21 2015	Argued. For petitioner: Kevin K. Russell, Bethesda, Md. For respondent: Sarah E. Harrington, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Jun 18 2015	Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Scalia, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Roberts, C. J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment.
Jul 20 2015	JUDGMENT ISSUED.

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McFadden v. United States

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