Sturgeon v. Frost
| Docket No. | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-1209 | Jan 20, 2016 | Apr 22, 2025 | 8-0 | Roberts | OT 2015 |
Holding: The Ninth Circuit's interpretation of Section 103(c) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, which addresses the scope of the National Park Service"s authority over lands within the boundaries of conservation system units in Alaska, to ban hovercrafts on state-owned waters flowing through federally managed preservation areas, is inconsistent with both the act"s text and context.
Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 8-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on April 22, 2025.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: A rebuke of the Ninth Circuit, and nothing more (Todd Henderson, March 23, 2016)
- Argument analysis: Are rivers an important part of the national parks? (Todd Henderson, January 22, 2016)
- Argument preview: A broken-down hovercraft tees up federal land-management policies in the West for the Supreme Court (Todd Henderson, January 13, 2016)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 02/18/2015 | Application (14A862) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 16, 2015 to April 30, 2015, submitted to Justice Kennedy. |
| 02/20/2015 | Application (14A862) granted by Justice Kennedy extending the time to file until March 31, 2015. |
| 03/31/2015 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 4, 2015) |
| 04/06/2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received form counsel for petitioner. |
| 04/29/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Ahtna Incorporated, et al. filed. |
| 04/30/2015 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including June 3, 2015. |
| 05/04/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Artic Slope Regional Corporation |
| 05/04/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Safari Club International filed. |
| 05/04/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Alaska filed. |
| 06/03/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including July 6, 2015. |
| 07/01/2015 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including August 5, 2015. |
| 08/05/2015 | Brief of respondents Sue Masica, in Her Official Capacity as Alaska Regional Director of the National Park Service, et al. in opposition filed. |
| 08/19/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015. |
| 08/21/2015 | Reply of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. (Distributed) |
| 10/01/2015 | Petition GRANTED. |
| 10/22/2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| 11/13/2015 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner John Sturgeon. |
| 11/16/2015 | Brief of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. |
| 11/20/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Pacific Legal Foundation filed. |
| 11/20/2015 | Motion of Alaska for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. |
| 11/23/2015 | Brief amici curiae of United States Senators Sullivan and Murkowski, and Representative Young filed. |
| 11/23/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Doyon, et al. filed. |
| 11/23/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Safari Club International filed. |
| 11/23/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Southeastern Legal Foundation filed. |
| 11/23/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of Alaska filed. |
| 11/23/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, et al. filed. |
| 11/23/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Alaska Miners Association, Inc., et al. filed. |
| 11/24/2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 |
| 12/04/2015 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit. |
| 12/14/2015 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED. |
| 12/14/2015 | Motion of Alaska for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. |
| 12/15/2015 | CIRCULATED. |
| 12/15/2015 | Record received from the U.S.D.C. Dist. of Alaska. 1 Envelope. |
| 12/16/2015 | Brief of respondents Bert Frost, in His Official Capacity as Alaska Regional Director of the National Park Service, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 12/23/2015 | Brief amici curiae of National Parks Conservation Association, et al. filed. (Distributed) |
| 12/23/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Alaska Native Subsistence Users filed. (Distributed) |
| 01/13/2016 | Reply of petitioner John Sturgeon filed. (Distributed) |
| 01/20/2016 | Argued. For petitioner: Matthew T. Findley, Anchorage, Alaska; and Ruth Botstein, Assistant Attorney General, Anchorage, Alaska (for Alaska, as amicus curiae). For respondents: Rachel P. Kovner, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| 03/22/2016 | Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. |
| 04/25/2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |