Breaking News

Thornell v. Jones

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
22-982 9th Cir. Apr 17, 2024
May 30, 2024 6-3 Alito OT 2023

Holding: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit’s grant of habeas relief on Danny Lee Jones’s ineffective assistance of counsel claim was based on an erroneous interpretation and application of Strickland v. Washington.

Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 6-3, in an opinion by Justice Alito on May 30, 2024. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Kagan joined. Justice Jackson filed a dissenting opinion.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
Jan 26 2023Application (22A685) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from February 5, 2023 to April 6, 2023, submitted to Justice Kagan.
Jan 31 2023Application (22A685) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until April 6, 2023.
Apr 06 2023Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 10, 2023)
May 01 2023Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 10, 2023 to July 9, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
May 02 2023Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including July 10, 2023. See Rule 30.1.
Jul 03 2023Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 10, 2023 to August 9, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
Jul 05 2023Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including August 9, 2023.
Aug 07 2023Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 9, 2023 to August 23, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
Aug 08 2023Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including August 23, 2023.
Aug 23 2023Brief of respondent Danny Lee Jones in opposition filed.
Aug 23 2023Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent Danny Lee Jones.
Aug 31 2023Reply of petitioner Ryan Thornell, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections filed.
Sep 06 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/26/2023.
Oct 02 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/6/2023.
Oct 10 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/13/2023.
Oct 23 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/27/2023.
Oct 30 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/3/2023.
Oct 31 2023Record Requested.
Oct 31 2023Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The record is electronic and available on PACER.
Nov 06 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/9/2023.
Nov 13 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/17/2023.
Nov 27 2023Record received from the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (Phoenix Division) (3 boxes).
Nov 27 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/1/2023.
Dec 01 2023Rescheduled.
Dec 01 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 12/8/2023.
Dec 13 2023Motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed by respondent GRANTED.
Dec 13 2023Petition GRANTED.
Jan 29 2024Brief of petitioner Ryan Thornell, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections filed.
Jan 29 2024Joint appendix filed. (Statement of cost filed.)
Jan 30 2024Motion for an extension of time to file respondent's brief on the merits filed.
Feb 05 2024Brief amici curiae of South Dakota, et al. filed.
Feb 07 2024Motion to extend the time to file respondent's brief on the merits granted and the time is extended to and including March 13, 2024.
Feb 16 2024SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.
Feb 21 2024Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mar 13 2024Brief of respondent Danny Lee Jones filed.
Mar 20 2024CIRCULATED
Mar 20 2024Brief amici curiae of The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Mar 20 2024Brief amicus curiae of Equal Justice U.S.A. filed. (Distributed)
Mar 20 2024Brief amicus curiae of The Arizona Capital Representation Project filed. (Distributed)
Apr 04 2024Reply of petitioner Ryan Thornell, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections filed. (Distributed)
Apr 17 2024Argued. For petitioner: Jason D. Lewis, Deputy Solicitor General, Phoenix, Ariz. For respondent: Jean-Claude Andre, Santa Monica, Cal.
May 30 2024Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, JJ., joined. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Kagan, J., joined. Jackson, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
May 31 2024Record returned to the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona (Phoenix Division) (3 boxes).
Jul 01 2024Judgment Issued.