Editor's Note :

close editor's note Editor's Note :

On Monday, the court will release orders from the March 27 conference at 9:30 a.m. There is a possibility of opinions at 10:00 a.m. We will be live-blogging starting at 9:25 a.m. at this link, where you can sign up for an email reminder when the live blog begins.

Sveen v. Melin

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
16-1432 8th Cir. Mar 19, 2018
Tr.Aud. 		Jun 11, 2018 8-1 Kagan OT 2017

Holding: The retroactive application of Minnesota’s revocation-on-divorce statute -- which automatically nullifies an ex-spouse’s beneficiary designation on a life-insurance policy or other will substitute -- does not violate the Constitution’s contracts clause.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 8-1, in an opinion by Justice Kagan on June 11, 2018. Justice Gorsuch filed a dissenting opinion.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Jun 01 2017Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 3, 2017)
Jun 05 2017Waiver of right of respondent Kaye Melin to respond filed.
Jul 19 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 25, 2017.
Aug 01 2017Response Requested. (Due August 31, 2017)
Aug 16 2017Order extending time to file response to petition to and including September 29, 2017.
Sep 29 2017Brief of respondent Kaye Melin in opposition filed.
Oct 06 2017Reply of petitioners Ashley Sveen, et al. filed.
Oct 18 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/3/2017.
Oct 23 2017Rescheduled.
Nov 20 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/8/2017.
Dec 08 2017Petition GRANTED.
Dec 18 2017Letter from counsel for petitioners regarding case caption filed.
Jan 16 2018Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioners Ashley Sveen, et al.
Jan 22 2018Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioners GRANTED.
Jan 22 2018Brief of petitioners Ashley Sveen, et al. filed.
Jan 24 2018SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, March 19, 2018
Jan 26 2018Brief amicus curiae of American College of Trust and Estate Counsel filed.
Feb 07 2018CIRCULATED
Feb 21 2018Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit.
Feb 21 2018Brief of respondent Kaye Melin filed. (Distributed)
Feb 27 2018Brief amicus curiae of Professor James W. Ely, Jr. filed. (Distributed)
Feb 28 2018Brief amici curiae of The Women’s Law Project, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Mar 05 2018Record received from the U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. (1 Box)
Mar 08 2018Reply of petitioners Ashley Sveen, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Mar 19 2018Argued. For petitioners: Adam G. Unikowsky, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Shay Dvoretzky, Washington, D. C.
Jun 11 2018Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Gorsuch, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
Jul 13 2018JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Aug 21 2018The Record from the U.S.C.A. 8th C has been returned.
 
Share:
Term Snapshot
At a Glance
Awards