Foster v. Chatman
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-8349 | Ga. | Nov 2, 2015 | Apr 25, 2025 | 7-1 | Roberts | OT 2015 |
Holding: (1) This Court has jurisdiction to review the judgment of the Georgia Supreme Court denying Timothy Foster a certificate of probable cause on his claim, under Batson v. Kentucky, that the state's use of peremptory challenges to strike all four black prospective jurors qualified to serve on the jury for his capital murder trial was racially motivated; and (2) the decision of the Georgia Supreme Court that Foster failed to show purposeful discrimination was clearly erroneous.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 7-1, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on April 25, 2025. Justice Alito filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Telltale files on race-based jury selection (Lyle Denniston, May 23, 2016)
- Argument analysis: To decide, or not -- that is the question (Lyle Denniston, November 2, 2015)
- Argument preview: Race and the make-up of juries (Lyle Denniston, October 30, 2015)
- As the 2015 Term opens: The Courts unusual Eighth Amendment focus (Rory Little, September 21, 2015)
- Criminal law grants for the October Term 2015 (Rory Little, July 23, 2015)
- Major test on voter equality set for review (Lyle Denniston, May 26, 2015)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 01/30/2015 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due March 9, 2015) |
| 03/09/2015 | Brief of respondent Bruce Chatman, Warden in opposition filed. |
| 03/24/2015 | Reply of petitioner Timothy Tyrone Foster filed. (Distributed) |
| 03/26/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 17, 2015. |
| 04/17/2015 | Record Requested . |
| 04/20/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of April 24, 2015. |
| 04/22/2015 | Record received from Superior Court of Georgia, Butts County (6 boxes). |
| 04/27/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 1, 2015. |
| 05/04/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 14, 2015. |
| 05/06/2015 | Record received from the Supreme Court of Georgia. The record is electronic. |
| 05/18/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 21, 2015. |
| 05/26/2015 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED. |
| 06/09/2015 | Motion to appoint counsel filed by petitioner Timothy Tyrone Foster. |
| 06/15/2015 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including July 24, 2015. |
| 06/15/2015 | The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including September 8, 2015. |
| 06/17/2015 | Motion DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015. |
| 07/24/2015 | Joint appendix filed (2 Volumes). (Statement of costs filed) |
| 07/24/2015 | Brief of petitioner Timothy Tyrone Foster filed. |
| 07/31/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Joseph diGenova, et al. filed. |
| 09/08/2015 | Brief of respondent Bruce Chatman, Warden filed. |
| 09/09/2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, November 2, 2015 |
| 09/21/2015 | CIRCULATED |
| 10/05/2015 | Motion to appoint counsel filed by petitioner GRANTED. and Stephen B. Bright, Esquire, of Atlanta, Georgia, is appointed to serve as counsel for the petitioner in this case. |
| 10/06/2015 | Reply of petitioner Timothy Tyrone Foster filed. (Distributed) |
| 10/30/2015 | Letter from Clerk of Court advising that counsel should be prepared to discuss at oral argument whether certiorari in this case should be directed to the Supreme Court of Georgia or the Superior Court of Butts County, Georgia, and what significance, if any, that determination may have on the Court |
| 11/02/2015 | Argued. For petitioner: Stephen B. Bright, Atlanta, Ga. (Appointed by this Court.) For respondent: Beth A. Burton, Deputy Attorney General, Atlanta, Ga. |
| 05/23/2016 | Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion. |
| 05/23/2016 | MANDATE ISSUED. |
| 06/24/2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |
| 06/24/2016 | MANDATE ISSUED |
| 03/15/2017 | The record from Butts County Superior Court has been returned. |