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Sturgeon v. Frost

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
14-1209 9th Cir. Jan 20, 2016 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.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Feb 18 2015Application (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 2015Application (14A862) granted by Justice Kennedy extending the time to file until March 31, 2015.
Mar 31 2015Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 4, 2015)
Apr 6 2015Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received form counsel for petitioner.
Apr 29 2015Brief amici curiae of Ahtna Incorporated, et al. filed.
Apr 30 2015Order extending time to file response to petition to and including June 3, 2015.
May 4 2015Brief amicus curiae of Artic Slope Regional Corporation
May 4 2015Brief amicus curiae of Safari Club International filed.
May 4 2015Brief amicus curiae of Alaska filed.
Jun 3 2015Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including July 6, 2015.
Jul 1 2015Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including August 5, 2015.
Aug 5 2015Brief of respondents Sue Masica, in Her Official Capacity as Alaska Regional Director of the National Park Service, et al. in opposition filed.
Aug 19 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015.
Aug 21 2015Reply of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. (Distributed)
Oct 1 2015Petition GRANTED.
Oct 22 2015Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Nov 13 2015Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner John Sturgeon.
Nov 16 2015Brief of petitioner John Sturgeon filed.
Nov 20 2015Brief amicus curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation filed.
Nov 20 2015Motion of Alaska for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Nov 23 2015Brief amici curiae of United States Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Representative Young filed.
Nov 23 2015Brief amici curiae of Doyon, et al. filed.
Nov 23 2015Brief amicus curiae of Safari Club International filed.
Nov 23 2015Brief amicus curiae of Southeastern Legal Foundation filed.
Nov 23 2015Brief amicus curiae of Alaska filed.
Nov 23 2015Brief amici curiae of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, et al. filed.
Nov 23 2015Brief amici curiae of Alaska Miners Association, Inc., et al. filed.
Nov 24 2015SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Dec 4 2015Record requested from U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit.
Dec 14 2015Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
Dec 14 2015Motion of Alaska for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Dec 15 2015CIRCULATED.
Dec 15 2015Record received from the U.S.D.C. Dist. of Alaska. 1 Envelope.
Dec 16 2015Brief of respondents Bert Frost, in His Official Capacity as Alaska Regional Director of the National Park Service, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Dec 23 2015Brief amici curiae of National Parks Conservation Association, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Dec 23 2015Brief amici curiae of Alaska Native Subsistence Users filed. (Distributed)
Jan 13 2016Reply of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. (Distributed)
Jan 20 2016Argued. 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 2016Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
Apr 25 2016JUDGMENT ISSUED