Southern Union Company v. United States

Docket No.	Op. Below	Argument	Opinion	Vote	Author	Term
11-94	1st Cir.	Mar 19, 2012 Tr.	Jun 21, 2012	6-3	Sotomayor	OT 2011

Holding: The rule established in Apprendi v. New Jersey – in which the Court held that the Sixth Amendment’s jury-trial guarantee requires that any fact (other than the fact of a prior conviction) which increases the maximum punishment authorized for a particular crime be proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt – applies to the imposition of criminal fines.

Judgment: Reversed, 6-3, in an opinion by Justice Sotomayor on June 21, 2012. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Kennedy and Alito.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

Opinion analysis: Imposition of criminal fine implicates Sixth Amendment right to jury trial (Susan F. Mandiberg)
Argument recap: Jury determination of facts supporting fines? And restitution? And forfeiture? (Susan F. Mandiberg)
Argument preview: Does Apprendi limit judicial fact finding relevant to the imposition of criminal fines? (Susan F. Mandiberg)

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs for the Petitioner

Amicus Briefs in Support of the Petitioner

Brief for the Chamber of Commerce et al.

Merits Briefs for the Respondent

Brief for the United States

Certiorari-stage documents

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The Supreme Court released additional orders from the January 11 conference on Monday; the justices called for the views of the U.S. solicitor general in CSX Transportation Inc. v. Alabama Department of Revenue, Alabama Department of Revenue v. CSX Transportation Inc. and Toshiba Corp. v. Automotive Industries Pension Trust Fund.
On Tuesday, the justices released their opinions in New Prime Inc. v. Oliveira and Stokeling v. United States.
On Monday, the justices heard oral argument in Thacker v. Tennessee Valley Authority and Rimini Street Inc. v. Oracle USA Inc.
On Tuesday, the justices heard oral argument in Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. v. Jackson and Azar v. Allina Health Services.
On Wednesday, the justices heard oral argument in Knick v. Township of Scott and Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Blair.
On Friday, the justices met for their January 18 conference; John Elwood's Relist Watch compiles the petitions relisted for this conference.
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Merits cases granted to date 73

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Justice Sotomayor at Harvard

On November 13, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and Judge Susan Carney of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit presided over the final round of the 2018 Ames Moot Court Competition at Harvard Law School.

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Cases argued	43
Cases decided	9
Summary reversals	2
Merits cases granted to date	73

Editor's Note :

Southern Union Company v. United States

SCOTUSblog Coverage

Briefs and Documents

Certiorari-stage documents

Featured Posts

Challengers urge justices to dismiss census case after district court ruling (Updated) – Amy Howe

Reargument analysis: Justices seek a “middle position” in takings litigation case – Miriam Seifter

Argument analysis: Justices have strong views about removal of class actions – Ronald Mann

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Conference of January 18, 2019

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Peabody Award

Sigma Delta Chi

National Press Club Award

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