Bond v. United States
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12-158 | 3d Cir. | Nov 5, 2013 | Jun 2, 2014 | 9-0 | Roberts | OT 2013 |
Holding: Section 229 of the Chemical Weapons Convention Implementation Act of 1998, which criminalizes, among other things, the possession or use of “chemical weapons," does not reach Bond’s conviction for simple assault, arising from her efforts to poison her husband’s mistress by spreading chemicals on (among other things) her doorknob, causing only a minor burn that was easily treated with water.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on June 2, 2014. Justice Scalia filed an opinion concurring in the judgement, in which Justice Thomas joined, and Justice Alito joined as to Part I. Justice Thomas filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Scalia joined, and which Justice Alito joined as to Parts I, II, and III. Justice Alito filed an opinion concurring in the judgement.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- A narrow reading of chemical weapons ban for Bond: In Plain English (Amy Howe, June 2, 2014)
- A “view” from the Court: Bad news for the Federal Circuit, good news for Bond (Mark Walsh, June 2, 2014)
- Opinion analysis: World law and "romantic jealousy" (Lyle Denniston, June 2, 2014)
- Little drama, more skepticism in treaty power case: In Plain English (Amy Howe, November 5, 2013)
- Argument recap: A tense hour at the Court (Lyle Denniston, November 5, 2013)
- Treaty power before the Court: In Plain English (Amy Howe, November 5, 2013)
- Argument preview: New look at old precedent (Lyle Denniston, November 2, 2013)
- Academic highlight: Questioning Congress's legislative authority to implement treaties (Amanda Frost, August 21, 2013)
- Petition of the day (Ben Cheng, October 26, 2012)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Aug 1 2012 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 3, 2012) |
| Aug 24 2012 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| Aug 29 2012 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 4, 2012. |
| Aug 31 2012 | Brief amici curiae of Cato Institute, et al. filed. |
| Sep 4 2012 | Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed. |
| Oct 4 2012 | Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. |
| Oct 4 2012 | Brief amicus curiae of Yale Law School Center for Global Legal Challenges filed. |
| Oct 16 2012 | Reply of petitioner Carol Anne Bond filed. |
| Oct 17 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 2, 2012. |
| Nov 5 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 9, 2012. |
| Nov 13 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 20, 2012. |
| Nov 26 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 30, 2012. |
| Dec 3 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 7, 2012. |
| Dec 17 2012 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 4, 2013. |
| Jan 7 2013 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 11, 2013. |
| Jan 14 2013 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of January 18, 2013. |
| Jan 18 2013 | Petition GRANTED. |
| Feb 6 2013 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including May 8, 2013. |
| Feb 6 2013 | The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 9, 2013. |
| Apr 16 2013 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| May 8 2013 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed) |
| May 8 2013 | Brief of petitioner Carol Anne Bond filed. |
| May 14 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of Goldwater Institute Scharf-Norton Center for Constitutional Litigation filed. |
| May 15 2013 | Brief amici curiae of U.S. Congressman Steve Stockman, et al. filed. |
| May 15 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of American Center for Law and Justice filed. |
| May 15 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Commonwealth of Virginia and the States of Alabama, et al. filed. |
| May 15 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of Center for Individual Rights filed. |
| May 15 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of Home School Legal Defense Association filed. |
| May 15 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of Judicial Education Project filed. |
| May 15 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Cato Institute, et al. filed. |
| Aug 7 2013 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondent. |
| Aug 9 2013 | Brief of respondent United States filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Motion of Cato Institute, et al. for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Professors Sarah H. Cleveland, and William S. Dodge filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Professors David M. Golove, Martin S. Lederman, and John Mikhail filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Chemical Weapons Convention Negotiators and Experts filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of Yale Law School Center for Global Legal Challenges filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of American Chemistry Council filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amicus curiae of David Boyle filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Professors of International Law and Legal History filed. |
| Aug 16 2013 | Brief amici curiae of Former State Department Legal Advisers filed. (Distributed) |
| Aug 19 2013 | CIRCULATED. |
| Aug 20 2013 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, November 5, 2013. |
| Aug 29 2013 | Application (13A237) to extend the time to file a reply brief on the merits from September 9, 2013 to September 16, 2013, submitted to Justice Alito. |
| Sep 4 2013 | Application (13A237) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until September 16, 2013. |
| Sep 11 2013 | Record from U.S.C.A. Third Circuit is electronic (Not PACER). |
| Sep 11 2013 | Record from the USDC for the District of Pennsylvania is electronic and located on PACER. Parts of the record is Not On PACER, but still electronic. |
| Sep 16 2013 | Reply of petitioner Carol Anne Bond filed. (Distributed) |
| Oct 7 2013 | Motion of Cato Institute, et al. for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument DENIED. |
| Nov 5 2013 | Argued. For petitioner: Paul D. Clement, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Donald B. Verrilli, Jr., Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| Jun 2 2014 | Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Scalia, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas, J., joined, and in which Alito, J., joined as to Part I. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Scalia, J., joined, and in which Alito, J., joined as to Parts I, II, and III. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. |
| Jul 7 2014 | Judgment issued. |
