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Wooden v. United States

Docket No.20-5279
Op. Below6th Cir.
ArgumentOct 4, 2021
Vote9-0
AuthorElena Kagan
OpinionMar 7, 2022
TermOctober Term 2021
SCOTUS PageOpinion

Holding

William Dale Wooden's ten burglary offenses arising from a single criminal episode did not occur on different "occasions" and thus count as only one prior conviction under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Judgment

Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Elena Kagan on Mar 7, 2022. Justice Kagan delivered the opinion of the court, in which Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kavanaugh joined, and in which Justices Thomas, Alito, and Barrett joined as to all but Part II-B. Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion. Kavanaugh filed a concurring opinion. Barrett filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas joined. Justice Gorsuch filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Sotomayor joined as to Part II, III, and IV.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Jul 24, 2020
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 4, 2020)Aug 12, 2020
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
Aug 27, 2020
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2020.
Sep 22, 2020
Response Requested. (Due October 22, 2020)
Oct 14, 2020
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 22, 2020 to November 23, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
Oct 15, 2020
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 23, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 23, 2020 to December 23, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
Nov 10, 2020
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including December 23, 2020.
Dec 21, 2020
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.Jan 6, 2021
Reply of petitioner William Dale Wooden filed. (Distributed)
Jan 7, 2021
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/22/2021.
Feb 12, 2021
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/19/2021.
Feb 22, 2021
Motion to proceed in forma pauperis GRANTED. Petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED limited to Question 2 presented by the petition.
Mar 5, 2021
Joint motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
Mar 22, 2021
Joint motion 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 May 3, 2021. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including June 28, 2021.
May 3, 2021
Brief of petitioner William Dale Wooden filed.May 3, 2021
Joint appendix filed (statement of cost filed.)May 10, 2021
Brief amicus curiae of National Association Of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.May 10, 2021
Brief amicus curiae of Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center filed.May 10, 2021
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Federal Defenders filed.May 10, 2021
Brief amici curiae of Professors of Criminal Law filed.May 10, 2021
Brief amicus curiae of FAMM filed.May 10, 2021
Brief amicus curiae of Human Rights For Kids filed.Jun 28, 2021
Brief of respondent United States filed.
Jul 13, 2021
ARGUMENT SET FOR Monday, October 4, 2021.
Jul 28, 2021
Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 6th Circuit.
Jul 28, 2021
Reply of petitioner William Dale Wooden filed.
Jul 28, 2021
Record received from the U.S.C.A. 6th Circuit has been electronically filed.
Aug 3, 2021
CIRCULATED
Oct 4, 2021
Argued. For petitioner: Allon Kedem, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Erica L. Ross, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
Mar 7, 2022
Judgment REVERSED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kavanaugh, JJ., joined, and in which Thomas, Alito, and Barrett, JJ., joined as to all but Part II–B. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion. Kavanaugh, J., filed a concurring opinion. Barrett, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas, J., joined. Gorsuch, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Sotomayor, J., joined as to Parts II, III, and IV.
Apr 8, 2022
JUDGMENT ISSUED.

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