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Nichols v. United States

Docket No.15-5238
Op. Below10th Cir.
ArgumentMar 1, 2016
Vote8-0
AuthorSamuel Alito
OpinionApr 4, 2016
TermOctober Term 2015
SCOTUS PageOpinion

Holding

The Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, which makes it a federal crime for certain sex offenders to "knowingly fai[l] to register or update a registration," and requires sex offenders who move to another state to, "no later than 3 business days after each change of name, residence, employment, or student status," inform in person at least one jurisdiction "where the offender resides, . . . is an employee, and . . . is a student," did not require Lester Nichols, a registered sex offender, to update his registration in Kansas once he left the state and moved to the Philippines.

Judgment

Reversed, 8-0, in an opinion by Samuel Alito on Apr 4, 2016.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Jul 14, 2015
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due August 17, 2015)
Aug 12, 2015
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including September 16, 2015.
Sep 16, 2015
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
Sep 25, 2015
Reply of petitioner Lester Ray Nichols filed.
Oct 1, 2015
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 16, 2015.
Oct 26, 2015
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 30, 2015.
Nov 2, 2015
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 6, 2015.
Nov 6, 2015
Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED limited to Question 1 presented by the petition.
Dec 15, 2015
The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including December 23, 2015.
Dec 15, 2015
The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 26, 2016.
Dec 23, 2015
SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Dec 23, 2015
Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Dec 23, 2015
Brief of petitioner Lester Ray Nichols filed.
Jan 4, 2016
Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit.
Jan 7, 2016
Record received from the U.S.C.A. 10th Circuit is electronic and located on PACER with the exception of 1 envelope.
Jan 15, 2016
CIRCULATED.
Jan 26, 2016
Brief of respondent United States filed. (Distributed)Feb 10, 2016
Supplemental brief of respondent United States filed. (Distributed)Feb 19, 2016
Reply of petitioner Lester Ray Nichols filed. (Distributed)
Mar 1, 2016
Argued. For petitioner: Daniel T. Hansmeier, Kansas City, Kan. For respondent: Curtis E. Gannon, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Apr 4, 2016
Judgment REVERSED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
May 6, 2016
JUDGMENT ISSUED

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