Skip to main content

McFadden v. United States

Docket No.14-378
Op. Below4th Cir.
ArgumentApr 21, 2015

Holding

Section 841(a)(1) of the Controlled Substances Act, which makes it unlawful knowingly to manufacture, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, requires the government to establish that the defendant knew he was dealing with a substance regulated under the Controlled Substances Act or the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of 1986.

Judgment

Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Clarence Thomas on Jun 18, 2015. Chief Justice Roberts filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgement.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Aug 18, 2014
Application (14A199) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 15, 2014 to October 14, 2014, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Aug 21, 2014
Application (14A199) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until October 14, 2014.
Oct 2, 2014
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 3, 2014)
Oct 30, 2014
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including December 3, 2014.
Nov 20, 2014
Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including December 15, 2014.
Dec 15, 2014
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. (To be reprinted).
Dec 17, 2014
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 9, 2015.
Dec 19, 2014
Reply of petitioner Stephen Dominick McFadden filed. (Distributed)
Jan 12, 2015
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 16, 2015.
Jan 16, 2015
Petition GRANTED.
Mar 2, 2015
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
Mar 2, 2015
Brief of petitioner Stephen Dominick McFadden filed.
Mar 5, 2015
Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Mar 6, 2015
SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, April 21, 2015
Mar 9, 2015
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.
Mar 9, 2015
Brief amici curiae of Expert Forensic Scientists filed.
Mar 16, 2015
CIRCULATED.
Mar 17, 2015
Record requested from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit.
Mar 17, 2015
Record received from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit is electronic and located on PACER. Also sent electronically from the 4th Circuit a SEALED Appendix.
Apr 1, 2015
Brief of respondent the United States filed. (Distributed)
Apr 10, 2015
Reply of petitioner Stephen Dominick McFadden filed. (Distributed)
Apr 21, 2015
Argued. For petitioner: Kevin K. Russell, Bethesda, Md. For respondent: Sarah E. Harrington, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Jun 18, 2015
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Scalia, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Roberts, C. J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment.
Jul 20, 2015
JUDGMENT ISSUED.

Welcome to SCOTUSblog

Tell us a bit about yourself so we can tailor what you see. You can update these any time in your account.