Taylor v. United States
| Docket No. | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-6166 | Feb 23, 2016 | May 1, 2025 | 7-1 | Alito | OT 2015 |
Holding: Because the Hobbs Act criminalizes robberies and attempted robberies that affect any commerce "over which the U.S. has jurisdiction," the prosecution in a Hobbs Act robbery case satisfies the act's commerce element if it shows that the defendant robbed or attempted to rob a drug dealer of drugs or drug proceeds.
Judgment: Affirmed, 7-1, in an opinion by Justice Alito on May 1, 2025. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Proof of interstate effects is unnecessary for federal prosecution when illegal drugs are involved (Rory Little, June 21, 2016)
- A view from the Courtroom: Vehicle problems (Mark Walsh, June 20, 2016)
- Argument analysis: Sometimes argument is not much help (Rory Little, February 24, 2016)
- Argument preview: Proving the federal criminal element of affecting commerce (Rory Little, February 17, 2016)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 09/04/2014 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due October 9, 2014) |
| 09/30/2014 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including November 10, 2014. |
| 11/07/2014 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including December 10, 2014. |
| 12/08/2014 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including January 9, 2015. |
| 01/05/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including February 17, 2015. |
| 02/18/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including March 19, 2015. |
| 03/17/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including April 20, 2015. |
| 04/20/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including May 20, 2015. |
| 05/20/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including June 3, 2015. |
| 06/03/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including July 6, 2015. |
| 07/06/2015 | Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. |
| 07/23/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015. |
| 10/01/2015 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. |
| 11/12/2015 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including November 30, 2015. |
| 11/12/2015 | The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 13, 2016. |
| 11/30/2015 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| 11/30/2015 | Supplemental joint appendix volume filed. |
| 11/30/2015 | Brief of petitioner David Anthony Taylor filed. |
| 12/23/2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, February 23, 2016 |
| 01/04/2016 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit. |
| 01/08/2016 | Record recieved from the U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit is electronic and located on PACER, with the exception of a SEALED appendix Volume III, which is also electronic. |
| 01/13/2016 | Brief of respondent United States filed. |
| 01/15/2016 | CIRCULATED. |
| 02/12/2016 | Reply of petitioner David Anthony Taylor filed. (Distributed) |
| 02/23/2016 | Argued. For petitioner: Dennis E. Jones, Abingdon, Va. For respondent: Anthony A. Yang, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. |
| 06/20/2016 | Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion. |
| 07/22/2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |