Skip to content

United States v. Sineneng-Smith

Docket No. Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
19-67 Feb 25, 2020 May 7, 2020 9-0 Ginsburg OT 2019

Holding: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit panel"s drastic departure from the principle of party presentation constituted an abuse of discretion when the court reached out to decide a question never raised by the respondent, namely, whether 8 U. S. C. " 1324(a)(1)(A)(iv) is unconstitutionally overbroad.

Judgment: Vacated and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Ginsburg on May 7, 2020. Justice Thomas filed a concurring opinion.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
04/29/2019Application (18A1117) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 13, 2019 to June 12, 2019, submitted to Justice Kagan.
04/30/2019Application (18A1117) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until June 12, 2019.
05/31/2019Application (18A1117) to extend further the time from June 12, 2019 to July 12, 2019, submitted to Justice Kagan.
05/31/2019Application (18A1117) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until July 12, 2019.
07/12/2019Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 12, 2019)
07/18/2019Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 12, 2019 to August 28, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
07/19/2019Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including August 28, 2019.
08/28/2019Brief of respondent Evelyn Sineneng-Smith in opposition filed.
09/10/2019Reply of petitioner United States filed.
09/11/2019DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/1/2019.
10/04/2019Petition GRANTED.
10/25/2019Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed.
11/15/2019Motion 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 December 2, 2019. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 15, 2020.
11/26/2019SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, February 25, 2020.
12/02/2019Joint appendix filed.
12/02/2019Brief of petitioner United States filed.
12/09/2019Brief amicus curiae of Eugene Volokh in support of neither party filed.
12/09/2019Brief amicus curiae of Immigration Reform Law Institute filed.
01/09/2020Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit.
01/09/2020The record from the U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit is electronic and located on PACER.
01/14/2020The record from the U.S.C.A. 9th Circuit and from the U.S.D.C. California Northern District (San Jose) is electronic and located on PACER, and sealed record material from both courts received by Clerk and available electronically.
01/15/2020Brief of respondent Evelyn Sineneng-Smith filed.
01/20/2020Brief amici curiae of The Rutherford Institute, et al. filed. (Distributed)
01/21/2020CIRCULATED
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of Immigration Representatives and Organizations filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Amicus brief of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers not accepted for filing. (January 28, 2020 - Corrected brief to be submitted.)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, et al. filed. (January 28, 2020). (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amicus curiae of Amnesty International filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of Religious Organizations filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of The Electronic Frontier Foundation, et al. filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amicus curiae of The Cato Institute filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of City and County of San Francisco, et al. filed. (Distributed)
01/22/2020Brief amici curiae of Asian Americans Advancing Justice, et al. filed. (Distributed)
02/14/2020Reply of petitioner United States filed. (Distributed)
02/25/2020Argued. For petitioner: Eric J. Feigin, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Mark C. Fleming, Boston, Mass.
05/07/2020Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Ginsburg, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Thomas, J., filed a concurring opinion.
06/08/2020JUDGMENT ISSUED.