DePierre v. United States
Holding
For purposes of a statute establishing mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses involving cocaine base, the term cocaine base? includes all cocaine in its chemically basic form, not just crack cocaine.
Plain English Holding
A federal sentencing statute requiring high mandatory minimum sentences for certain offenses involving cocaine base applies to all kinds of cocaine, not just crack cocaine.
Judgment
Affirmed, 9-0, in an opinion by Sonia Sotomayor on Jun 9, 2011. Justice Scalia did not join Part III-A of the opinion; he also filed a separate opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment.
Recommended Citation: DePierre v. United States, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/depierre-v-united-states/