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Rico v. United States

Docket No.24-1056
Op. Below9th Cir.
ArgumentNov 3, 2025

Holding

The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 does not authorize a rule automatically extending a defendant’s term of supervised release when the defendant fails to report to a probation officer.

Judgment

Reversed and remanded, 8-1, in an opinion by Neil Gorsuch on Mar 25, 2026. Justice Alito wrote a dissenting opinion.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Apr 3, 2025
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 7, 2025)
Apr 30, 2025
Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 7, 2025 to June 6, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
May 1, 2025
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 6, 2025.
Jun 6, 2025
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
Jun 6, 2025
Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
Jun 10, 2025
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/26/2025.
Jun 10, 2025
Reply of petitioner Isabel Rico filed. (Distributed)
Jun 30, 2025
Petition GRANTED.
Jul 21, 2025
Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Isabel Rico.
Aug 12, 2025
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, November 3, 2025.
Aug 14, 2025
Brief of petitioner Isabel Rico filed.
Aug 15, 2025
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Federal Defenders filed.
Aug 20, 2025
Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Aug 20, 2025
Brief amicus curiae of Due Process Institute filed.
Aug 21, 2025
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.
Aug 21, 2025
Brief amicus curiae of Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center filed.
Sep 2, 2025
Sealed material received electronically from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and available with the Clerk. The remainder of the record is electronic and is available on PACER.
Sep 15, 2025
Brief of respondent United States filed.
Sep 25, 2025
Record received electronically from the United States District Court for the Central District of California and available with the Clerk.
Sep 30, 2025
Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
Sep 30, 2025
CIRCULATED
Oct 15, 2025
Reply of petitioner Isabel Rico filed. (Distributed)
Nov 3, 2025
Argued. For petitioner: Adam G. Unikowsky, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Joshua K. Handell, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Mar 25, 2026
Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Gorsuch, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Jackson, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion.

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