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Ziglar v. Abbasi

Consolidated with Ashcroft v. Abbasi (15-1359), Hasty v. Abbasi (15-1363)
Docket No.15-1358
Op. Below2d Cir.
ArgumentJan 18, 2017

Holding

(1) The limited reach of the Bivens action informs the decision whether an implied damages remedy should be recognized in this case; (2) considering the relevant special factors in this case, a Bivens-type remedy should not be extended to the "detention policy claims" challenging the confinement conditions imposed on the detainees pursuant to the formal policy adopted by the executive officials in the wake of the September 11 attacks; (3) the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit erred in allowing the prisoner-abuse claim against Warden Dennis Hasty to go forward without conducting the required special-factors analysis; and (4) the executive officials and wardens are entitled to qualified immunity with respect to respondents' claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1985(3).

Judgment

Reversed in part and vacated and remanded in part, 4-2, in an opinion by Anthony McLeod Kennedy on Jun 19, 2017. Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Supreme Court with respects to Parts I, II, III, IV-A, and V, in which Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas and Alito joined; Justice Kennedy also delivered an opinion with respect to Part IV-B, in which Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito joined. Justice Thomas filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Justice Breyer filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Ginsburg joined. Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Gorsuch took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.

Proceedings & orders timeline

Feb 26, 2016
Application (15A894) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 10, 2016 to April 11, 2016, submitted to Justice Ginsburg.
Feb 26, 2016
Application (15A894) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until April 11, 2016.
Apr 1, 2016
Application (15A894) to extend further the time from April 11, 2016 to May 9, 2016, submitted to Justice Ginsburg.
Apr 4, 2016
Application (15A894) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until May 9, 2016.
May 9, 2016
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due June 8, 2016)
May 9, 2016
Appendix of James W. Ziglar filed.
May 26, 2016
Order extending time to file response to petition to and including August 8, 2016.
Jun 8, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Former U.S. Attorneys General William P. Barr, et al. filed. VIDED.
Jun 8, 2016
Waiver of right of Federal Respondents to respond filed.
Aug 8, 2016
Brief of respondents Ahmer Iqbal Abbasi, et al. in opposition filed. VIDED.
Aug 22, 2016
Reply of petitioner James W. Ziglar filed.
Sep 21, 2016
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 7, 2016.
Oct 11, 2016
Petition GRANTED. The petitions for writs of certiorari in Nos. 15-1359 and 15-1363 are granted. The cases are consolidated and a total of one hour is allotted for oral argument. Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagan took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
Nov 10, 2016
Letter from the Solicitor General regarding case caption. VIDED
Nov 18, 2016
Joint appendix filed. VIDED.
Nov 18, 2016
Brief of petitioner James W. Ziglar filed.
Nov 25, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Former U.S. Attorneys General William P. Barr, et al. filed. VIDED.
Dec 1, 2016
Application (16A546) of respondents to file a consolidated brief on the merits in excess of the word limit, submitted to Justice Ginsburg. VIDED.
Dec 2, 2016
Application (16A546) granted by Justice Ginsburg to file a consolidated brief of respondents on the merits is excess of the word limit. VIDED.
Dec 5, 2016
SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 18, 2017. VIDED
Dec 7, 2016
Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit.
Dec 12, 2016
CIRCULATED.
Dec 12, 2016
Motion of petitioners to enlarge the time for oral argument and for divided argument filed. VIDED.
Dec 19, 2016
Brief of respondents Ahmer Iqbal Abbasi, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 20, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Professors of Civil Procedure filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 22, 2016
Brief amicus curiae of Commonwealth Lawyers Association filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 22, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Medical and Other Scientific and Health-Related Professionals filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 23, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Immigration Detention Advocacy Organizations filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 23, 2016
Brief amicus curiae of The American Association for Justice filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 27, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Former Correctional Officials filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 27, 2016
Brief amici curiae of The American Civil Liberties Union, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 27, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 27, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Dec 27, 2016
Brief amici curiae of Karen Korematsu, et al. filed. VIDED. (Distributed)
Jan 6, 2017
The motion of petitioners for enlargement of time for oral argument and for divided argument is granted in part and denied in part, and the time is divided as follows: 20 minutes for the Acting Solicitor General on behalf of petitioners in Nos. 15-1358 and 15-1359, 10 minutes for petitioners in No. 15-1363, and 30 minutes for respondents. Justice Sotomayor and Justice Kagan took no part in the consideration or decision of this motion. VIDED.
Jan 11, 2017
Reply of petitioner James W. Ziglar filed. (Distributed)
Jan 18, 2017
Argued. For petitioners in 15-1358 and 15-1359: Ian H. Gershengorn, Acting Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For petitioners in 15-1363: Jeffrey A. Lamken, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Rachel Meeropol, New York, N. Y. VIDED.
Jun 19, 2017
Adjudged to be REVERSED IN PART and VACATED and REMANDED IN PART. Kennedy, J., delivered the opinion of the Court with respect to Parts I, II, III, IV-A, and V, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas and Alito, JJ., joined, and an opinion with respect to Part IV-B, in which Roberts, C. J., and Alito, J., joined. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment. Breyer, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Ginsburg, J., joined. Sotomayor, Kagan, and Gorsuch, JJ., took no part in the consideration or decision of these cases. VIDED.
Jul 21, 2017
JUDGMENT ISSUED.

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