Gutierrez v. Saenz
Holding
Petitioner Ruben Gutierrez has standing to bring his claim challenging Texas’s postconviction DNA testing procedures under the due process clause.
Judgment
Reversed and remanded, 6-3, in an opinion by Sonia Sotomayor on Jun 26, 2025. Justice Barrett filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion. Justice Alito also filed a dissenting opinion, which was joined by Justices Gorsuch and Thomas.
Jun 25, 2024Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed.Jun 25, 2024Application (23A1160) for a stay of execution of sentence of death, submitted to Justice Alito.Jul 9, 2024Brief of respondent Luis Saenz in opposition filed.Jul 11, 2024Reply of petitioner Ruben Gutierrez filed.
Jul 16, 2024Application (23A1160) referred to the Court.
Jul 16, 2024Application (23A1160) for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Alito and by him referred to the Court is granted pending the disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari. Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court.
Jul 25, 2024DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/30/2024.
Oct 4, 2024Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED.
Oct 18, 2024Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.Oct 22, 2024Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including December 3, 2024. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 17, 2025.
Nov 22, 2024SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, February 24, 2025.
Nov 26, 2024Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Dec 3, 2024Brief of petitioner Ruben Gutierrez filed.Dec 3, 2024Joint appendix (2 volumes) filed. (Statement of costs filed.)Dec 10, 2024Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed.Dec 11, 2024Documents under seal received electronically from the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and available with the Clerk. The remainder of the record is electronic and is available on PACER.
Jan 13, 2025CIRCULATED
Jan 17, 2025Brief of respondents Luis Saenz, et al. filed. (Distributed)Jan 24, 2025Brief amici curiae of Arkansas, et al. filed. (Distributed)Feb 4, 2025Record received electronically from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas and available with the Clerk.
Feb 14, 2025Reply of petitioner Ruben Gutierrez filed. (Distributed)Feb 24, 2025Argued. For petitioner: Anne E. Fisher, Assistant Federal Defender, Philadelphia, Pa. For respondents: William F. Cole, Deputy Solicitor General, Austin, Tex.
Jun 26, 2025Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kagan, Kavanaugh, and Jackson, JJ., joined, and in which Barrett, J., joined as to all but Part II.B.2. Barrett, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Thomas and Gorsuch, JJ., joined.
Jul 28, 2025Judgment Issued.Recommended Citation: Gutierrez v. Saenz, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/gutierrez-v-saenz-3/