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Virginia v. LeBlanc

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
16-1177 4th Cir. Not Argued Jun 12, 2017 n/a Per Curiam OT 2016

Holding: The Virginia trial court's ruling denying Dennis LeBlanc's motion to vacate his sentence in light of the Supreme Court's requirement in Graham v. Florida that a state give juvenile offenders convicted of a nonhomicide crime "some meaningful opportunity to obtain release based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation" -- a ruling which rested on the Virginia Supreme Court's earlier ruling in Angel v. Commonwealth that the state's geriatric release program satisfies this requirement -- was not objectively unreasonable in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's current case law.

Judgment: Reversed in a per curiam opinion on June 12, 2017. Justice Ginsburg filed a concurring opinion.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Mar 28 2017Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 1, 2017)
May 01 2017Brief of respondent Dennis LeBlanc in opposition filed.
May 01 2017Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent Dennis LeBlanc.
May 05 2017Reply of petitioners Virginia, et al. filed.
May 08 2017Letter of May 4, 2017, from counsel for petitioners waiving the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 received.
May 09 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 25, 2017.
May 30 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 1, 2017.
Jun 05 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 8, 2017.
Jun 12 2017Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent GRANTED.
Jun 12 2017Petition GRANTED. Judgment REVERSED. Opinion per curiam. (Detached Opinion). Justice Ginsburg, concurring in the judgment. (Detached Opinion).
Jul 05 2017Petition for Rehearing filed.
Jul 13 2017DISTRIBUTED.
Aug 07 2017Rehearing DENIED.
Aug 07 2017JUDGMENT ISSUED.