Ocasio v. United States
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-361 | 4th Cir. | Oct 6, 2015 | May 2, 2016 | 5-3 | Alito | OT 2015 |
Holding: A defendant may be convicted of conspiring to violate the Hobbs Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1951, based on proof that he reached an agreement with the owner of the property in question to obtain that property under color of official right.
Judgment: Affirmed, 5-3, in an opinion by Justice Alito on May 2, 2016. Justice Breyer filed a concurring opinion. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, in which Chief Justice Roberts joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Federal conspiracy law reaches persons who agree to obtain secret kickbacks from a member of the conspiracy (Rory Little, May 2, 2016)
- Argument analysis: A simple answer regarding Hobbs Act conspiracy? (Rory Little, October 7, 2015)
- Argument preview: A brain-teaser for criminal conspiracy law (Rory Little, October 2, 2015)
- Criminal law grants for the October Term 2015 (Rory Little, July 23, 2015)
- Petition of the day (Maureen Johnston, November 14, 2014)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 07/16/2014 | Application (14A59) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 26, 2014 to September 25, 2014, submitted to The Chief Justice. |
| 07/18/2014 | Application (14A59) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until September 25, 2014. |
| 09/25/2014 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 29, 2014) |
| 10/23/2014 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including November 28, 2014. |
| 11/24/2014 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including December 29, 2014. |
| 12/29/2014 | Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. |
| 01/13/2015 | Reply of petitioner Samuel Ocasio filed. |
| 01/14/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 20, 2015. |
| 02/23/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 27, 2015. |
| 03/02/2015 | Petition GRANTED. |
| 03/27/2015 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including June 1, 2015. |
| 03/27/2015 | The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 3, 2015. |
| 05/20/2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| 06/01/2015 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| 06/01/2015 | Brief of petitioner Samuel Ocasio filed. |
| 06/08/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Former United States Attorneys filed. |
| 06/08/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed. |
| 07/29/2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. |
| 07/30/2015 | Brief of respondent United States filed. |
| 08/07/2015 | CIRCULATED. |
| 08/12/2015 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit. |
| 08/31/2015 | Reply of petitioner Samuel Ocasio filed. (Distributed) |
| 09/15/2015 | Record received from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit is electronic and located on PACER with the exception of a SEALED electronic document. |
| 10/06/2015 | Argued. For petitioner: Ethan P. Davis, San Francisco, Cal. For respondent: Allon Kedem, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| 05/02/2016 | Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., joined. |
| 06/03/2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |