Sturgeon v. Frost
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-1209 | 9th Cir. |
Jan 20, 2016 Tr.Aud. |
Mar 22, 2016 | 8-0 | Roberts | OT 2015 |
Holding: The Ninth Circuit's interpretation of Section 103(c) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which addresses the scope of the National Park Service’s authority over lands within the boundaries of conservation system units in Alaska, to ban hovercrafts on state-owned waters flowing through federally managed preservation areas, is inconsistent with both the act’s text and context.
Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 8-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on March 22, 2016.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: A rebuke of the Ninth Circuit, and nothing more (Todd Henderson)
- Argument analysis: Are rivers an important part of the national parks? (Todd Henderson)
- Argument preview: A broken-down hovercraft tees up federal land-management policies in the West for the Supreme Court (Todd Henderson)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Feb 18 2015 | Application (14A862) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 16, 2015 to April 30, 2015, submitted to Justice Kennedy. |
| Feb 20 2015 | Application (14A862) granted by Justice Kennedy extending the time to file until March 31, 2015. |
| Mar 31 2015 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 4, 2015) |
| Apr 6 2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received form counsel for petitioner. |
| Apr 29 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Ahtna Incorporated, et al. filed. |
| Apr 30 2015 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including June 3, 2015. |
| May 4 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Artic Slope Regional Corporation |
| May 4 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Safari Club International filed. |
| May 4 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Alaska filed. |
| Jun 3 2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including July 6, 2015. |
| Jul 1 2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including August 5, 2015. |
| Aug 5 2015 | Brief of respondents Sue Masica, in Her Official Capacity as Alaska Regional Director of the National Park Service, et al. in opposition filed. |
| Aug 19 2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015. |
| Aug 21 2015 | Reply of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. (Distributed) |
| Oct 1 2015 | Petition GRANTED. |
| Oct 22 2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| Nov 13 2015 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner John Sturgeon. |
| Nov 16 2015 | Brief of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. |
| Nov 20 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation filed. |
| Nov 20 2015 | Motion of Alaska for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. |
| Nov 23 2015 | Brief amici curiae of United States Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Representative Young filed. |
| Nov 23 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Doyon, et al. filed. |
| Nov 23 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Safari Club International filed. |
| Nov 23 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Southeastern Legal Foundation filed. |
| Nov 23 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Alaska filed. |
| Nov 23 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, et al. filed. |
| Nov 23 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Alaska Miners Association, Inc., et al. filed. |
| Nov 24 2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 |
| Dec 4 2015 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit. |
| Dec 14 2015 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED. |
| Dec 14 2015 | Motion of Alaska for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. |
| Dec 15 2015 | CIRCULATED. |
| Dec 15 2015 | Record received from the U.S.D.C. Dist. of Alaska. 1 Envelope. |
| Dec 16 2015 | Brief of respondents Bert Frost, in His Official Capacity as Alaska Regional Director of the National Park Service, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 23 2015 | Brief amici curiae of National Parks Conservation Association, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Dec 23 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Alaska Native Subsistence Users filed. (Distributed) |
| Jan 13 2016 | Reply of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. (Distributed) |
| Jan 20 2016 | Argued. For petitioner: Matthew T. Findley, Anchorage, Alaska; and Ruth Botstein, Assistant Attorney General, Anchorage, Alaska (for Alaska, as amicus curiae). For respondents: Rachel P. Kovner, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| Mar 22 2016 | Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. |
| Apr 25 2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |
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