Murphy v. Smith
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16-1067 | 7th Cir. |
Dec 6, 2017 Tr.Aud. |
Feb 21, 2018 | 5-4 | Gorsuch | OT 2017 |
Holding: In cases governed by 42 U.S.C. § 1997e(d), district courts must apply as much of a judgment in a federal civil rights suit as necessary, up to 25 percent, to satisfy an award of attorney’s fees.
Judgment: Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Gorsuch on February 21, 2018. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Divided court holds more of prisoners’ damages awards must go to attorney’s fees (Charlotte Garden)
- Argument analysis: What does it take to satisfy an award of attorney’s fees? (Charlotte Garden)
- Argument preview: Who should pay attorneys who win on behalf of prisoners? (Charlotte Garden)
- In Recess #4: "Stone Soup" (First Mondays)
- Justices add prisoner fees case to merits docket (Amy Howe)
- Petition of the day (Kate Howard)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Mar 02 2017 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 5, 2017) |
| Mar 30 2017 | Waiver of right of respondent Robert Smith, et al. to respond filed. |
| Apr 03 2017 | Brief amici curiae of Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, et al. filed. |
| Apr 12 2017 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 28, 2017. |
| Apr 12 2017 | Response Requested. (Due May 12, 2017) |
| Apr 25 2017 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including June 12, 2017. |
| Jun 14 2017 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including July 12, 2017. |
| Jul 12 2017 | Brief of respondents Robert Smith, et al. in opposition filed. |
| Jul 18 2017 | Reply of petitioner Charles Murphy filed. |
| Jul 26 2017 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 25, 2017. |
| Aug 25 2017 | Petition GRANTED. |
| Sep 05 2017 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Charles Murphy. |
| Sep 29 2017 | Brief of petitioner Charles Murphy filed. |
| Oct 06 2017 | Brief amici curiae of American Civil Liberties, et al. filed. |
| Oct 06 2017 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, December 6, 2017 |
| Oct 10 2017 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED. |
| Oct 20 2017 | CIRCULATED |
| Oct 30 2017 | Brief of respondents Robert Smith, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Nov 06 2017 | Brief amici curiae of States of Michigan, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Nov 16 2017 | Reply of petitioner Charles Murphy filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 06 2017 | Argued. For petitioner: Stuart Banner, Los Angeles, Cal. For respondents: Brett E. Legner, Deputy Solicitor General, Chicago, Ill. |
| Feb 21 2018 | Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Gorsuch, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Thomas, and Alito, JJ., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan, JJ., joined. |
| Mar 26 2018 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |
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