Williams v. Pennsylvania
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15-5040 | Pa. | Feb 29, 2016 | Jun 9, 2016 | 5-3 | Kennedy | OT 2015 |
Holding: Under the Due Process Clause, there is an impermissible risk of actual bias when a judge earlier had significant, personal involvement as a prosecutor in a critical decision regarding the defendant’s case.
Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 5-3, in an opinion by Justice Kennedy on June 9, 2016. Chief Justice Roberts filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Alito joined. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Another step toward constitutionalizing recusal obligations (Richard M. Re, June 9, 2016)
- Argument analysis: Seeking a recusal rule that the Justices can live with (Richard M. Re, February 29, 2016)
- Argument preview: When must a prosecutor-turned-judge recuse from a capital case? (Richard M. Re, February 23, 2016)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| May 7 2015 | Application (14A1161) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 19, 2015 to July 18, 2015, submitted to Justice Alito. |
| May 12 2015 | Application (14A1161) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until June 18, 2015. |
| Jun 12 2015 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due July 31, 2015) |
| Jul 24 2015 | Brief of respondent Pennsylvania in opposition filed. |
| Aug 7 2015 | Reply of petitioner Terrance Williams filed. |
| Aug 13 2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015. |
| Oct 1 2015 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. |
| Nov 6 2015 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including November 30, 2015. |
| Nov 6 2015 | The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 13, 2016. |
| Nov 10 2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| Nov 13 2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party received from counsel for the respondent. |
| Nov 30 2015 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| Nov 30 2015 | Brief of petitioner Terrance Williams filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Constitutional Accountability Center filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Former Judges with Prosecutorial Experience filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amici curiae of The Ethics Bureau at Yale, et al. filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of The American Bar Association filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Former Appellate Court Jurists filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amici curiae of Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, and Justice at Stake filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amici curiae of The American Civil Liberties Union, and The ACLU of Pennsylvania filed. |
| Dec 7 2015 | Brief amicus curiae of The American Academy of Appellate Lawyers filed. |
| Dec 23 2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, February 29, 2016 |
| Jan 8 2016 | Record received from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Eastern District. (2 Boxes) |
| Jan 13 2016 | Brief of respondent Pennsylvania filed. (Distributed) |
| Jan 15 2016 | CIRCULATED. |
| Feb 11 2016 | Record received from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. (2 Boxes) |
| Feb 12 2016 | Reply of petitioner Terrance Williams filed. (Distributed) |
| Feb 29 2016 | Argued. For petitioner: Stuart B. Lev, Assistant Federal Defender, Philadelphia, Pa. For respondent: Ronald Eisenberg, Deputy District Attorney, Philadelphia, Pa. |
| Jun 9 2016 | Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Kennedy, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Roberts, C. J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Alito, J., joined. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion. |
| Jun 9 2016 | MANDATE ISSUED. |
| Jul 12 2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |
| Jul 12 2016 | MANDATE ISSUED |
| Aug 16 2016 | Records from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has been returned. (4 Boxes) |
