Madison v. Alabama
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17-7505 | Ala. Cir. Ct. | Oct 2, 2018 | Feb 27, 2019 | 5-3 | Kagan | OT 2018 |
Holding: The Eighth Amendment may permit executing a prisoner even if he cannot remember committing his crime, but it may prohibit executing a prisoner who suffers from dementia or another disorder rather than psychotic delusions.
Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 5-3, in an opinion by Justice Kagan on February 27, 2019. Justice Alito filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Thomas and Gorsuch joined. Justice Kavanaugh took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Symposium: The Supreme Court turns against novel or late-breaking execution challenges (Edmund LaCour, July 29, 2019)
- Opinion analysis: Court orders new look at death sentence for Alabama inmate with dementia (Amy Howe, February 27, 2019)
- Argument analysis: A narrow victory possible for death-row inmate with dementia? (Amy Howe, October 2, 2018)
- OT2018 #1: "Rearranging Deck Chairs" (First Mondays, October 1, 2018)
- Argument preview: Justices to consider competency in capital cases (Amy Howe, September 25, 2018)
- OT2018 #0: "Looks A Lot Like Grift" (First Mondays, September 24, 2018)
- Criminal cases in the October 2018 term: A law professor’s dream (Rory Little, September 18, 2018)
- Justices add three cases to merits docket, but deny review in DACA-termination case (Amy Howe, February 26, 2018)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Jan 18 2018 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due February 20, 2018) |
| Jan 19 2018 | Brief of respondent State of Alabama in opposition filed. |
| Jan 22 2018 | Application (17A770) for a stay of execution of sentence of death, submitted to Justice Thomas. |
| Jan 22 2018 | Reply of petitioner Vernon Madison filed. |
| Jan 22 2018 | Response to application from respondent State of Alabama filed. |
| Jan 25 2018 | UPON CONSIDERATION of the application of counsel for the applicant, IT IS ORDERED that execution of the sentence of death is hereby stayed pending further order of Justice Thomas or of the Court. |
| Jan 25 2018 | Application (17A770) referred to the Court. |
| Jan 25 2018 | Application (17A770) granted by the Court. The application for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is granted pending the disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari. Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the issuance of the mandate of this Court. Justice Thomas, Justice Alito, and Justice Gorsuch would deny the application. |
| Feb 01 2018 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/16/2018. |
| Feb 20 2018 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/23/2018. |
| Feb 26 2018 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. |
| Mar 15 2018 | Joint motion for an extension of time file the briefs on the merits. |
| Mar 27 2018 | 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 22, 2018. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including July 31, 2018. |
| May 10 2018 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Vernon Madison. |
| May 18 2018 | Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, Alabama |
| May 21 2018 | Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, Vernon Madison |
| May 22 2018 | Brief of petitioner Vernon Madison filed. |
| May 29 2018 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED. |
| May 29 2018 | Brief amici curiae of American Psychological Association and American Psychiatric Association filed. |
| Jul 09 2018 | SET FOR ARGUMENT On Tuesday, October 2, 2018 |
| Jul 31 2018 | Brief of respondent State of Alabama filed. |
| Aug 03 2018 | CIRCULATED |
| Aug 07 2018 | Record requested from the Circuit Court of Alabama, Mobile County. |
| Aug 07 2018 | Brief amici curiae of States of Texas, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| Aug 07 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Police Organizations filed. (Distributed) |
| Aug 14 2018 | Record received from the Court of Criminal Appeals State of Alabama. The record is electronic. |
| Aug 16 2018 | Record received from the Circuit Court of Alabama, Mobile County. The record is electronic. |
| Aug 17 2018 | Record received from the Circuit Court of Alabama, Mobile County. 1 envelope. |
| Aug 24 2018 | Record received from the Circuit Court of Mobile Alabama (additional material). |
| Aug 30 2018 | Reply of petitioner Vernon Madison filed. (Distributed) |
| Oct 02 2018 | Argued. For petitioner: Bryan A. Stevenson, Montgomery, Ala. For respondent: Thomas R. Govan, Jr., Alabama Deputy Attorney General, Montgomery, Ala. |
| Dec 18 2018 | Record received from the Mobile County Circuit Criminal, one box of exhibits. |
| Feb 27 2019 | Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Ginsburg, Breyer, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Thomas and Gorsuch, JJ., joined. Kavanaugh, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. |
| Apr 01 2019 | MANDATE ISSUED. |
| Apr 01 2019 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |
