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Williams v. Reed

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
23-191 Ala. Oct 7, 2024 Feb 21, 2025 5-4 Kavanaugh OT 2024

Holding: Where a state court"s application of a state exhaustion requirement in effect immunizes state officials from 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claims challenging delays in the administrative process, state courts may not deny those claims on failure-to-exhaust grounds.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 5-4, in an opinion by Justice Kavanaugh on February 21, 2025. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Alito, Gorsuch, and Barrett joined as to Part II.

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
08/28/2023Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 28, 2023)
09/18/2023Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 28, 2023 to October 30, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
09/19/2023Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 30, 2023.
10/13/2023Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 30, 2023 to November 20, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
10/16/2023Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including November 20, 2023.
11/17/2023Brief of respondent Fitzgerald Washington, Alabama Secretary of Labor in opposition filed.
12/06/2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/5/2024.
12/06/2023Reply of petitioners Nancy Williams, et al. filed. (Distributed)
01/08/2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/12/2024.
01/12/2024Petition GRANTED.
01/26/2024Suggestion of death and stipulation to dismiss pursuant to Rule 46.1 as to petitioner Cynthia Hawkins filed.
02/02/2024Writ of certiorari dismissed under Rule 46 as to petitioner Cynthia Hawkins only.
02/05/2024Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
02/07/2024Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including April 11, 2024. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including June 25, 2024.
04/11/2024Brief of petitioners Nancy Williams, et al. filed.
04/11/2024Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
04/18/2024Brief amicus curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States filed.
04/18/2024Brief amici curiae of Public Citizen, et al. filed.
04/18/2024Brief amicus curiae of The Islam and Religious Freedom Action Team and The American Hindu Coalition filed.
04/18/2024Brief amicus curiae of National Health Law Program, et al. filed.
04/18/2024Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed.
06/25/2024Brief of respondent Fitzgerald Washington, Alabama Secretary of Labor filed.
07/02/2024Brief amici curiae of Tennessee, et al. filed.
07/25/2024Reply of petitioners Nancy Williams, et al. filed.
07/26/2024SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, October 7, 2024.
07/26/2024Record requested from the Supreme Court of Alabama.
08/08/2024CIRCULATED
08/15/2024Record received from the Supreme Court of Alabama. The record is electronic and is available with the Clerk.
10/07/2024Argued. For petitioners: Adam G. Unikowsky, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Edmund G. LaCour, Jr., Solicitor General, Montgomery, Ala.
02/21/2025Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Kavanaugh, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Alito, Gorsuch, and Barrett, JJ., joined as to Part II.
03/25/2025Judgment and Mandate Issued.