Ocasio v. United States
| Docket No. | Op. Below | Argument | Opinion | Vote | Author | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14-361 | 4th Cir. | Oct 6, 2015 | May 2, 2016 | 5-3 | Alito | OT 2015 |
Holding: A defendant may be convicted of conspiring to violate the Hobbs Act based on proof that he reached an agreement with the owner of the property in question to obtain that property under color of official right.
Judgment: Affirmed, 5-3, in an opinion by Justice Alito on May 2, 2016. Justice Breyer filed a concurring opinion. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion. Justice Sotomayor filed a dissenting opinion, in which Chief Justice Roberts joined.
SCOTUSblog Coverage
- Opinion analysis: Federal conspiracy law reaches persons who agree to obtain secret kickbacks from a member of the conspiracy (Rory Little, May 2, 2016)
- Argument analysis: A simple answer regarding Hobbs Act conspiracy? (Rory Little, October 7, 2015)
- Argument preview: A brain-teaser for criminal conspiracy law (Rory Little, October 2, 2015)
- Criminal law grants for the October Term 2015 (Rory Little, July 23, 2015)
- Petition of the day (Maureen Johnston, November 14, 2014)
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| 07/16/2014 | Application (14A59) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from August 26, 2014 to September 25, 2014, submitted to The Chief Justice. |
| 07/18/2014 | Application (14A59) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until September 25, 2014. |
| 09/25/2014 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 29, 2014) |
| 10/23/2014 | Order extending time to file response to petition to and including November 28, 2014. |
| 11/24/2014 | Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including December 29, 2014. |
| 12/29/2014 | Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. |
| 01/13/2015 | Reply of petitioner Samuel Ocasio filed. |
| 01/14/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 20, 2015. |
| 02/23/2015 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of February 27, 2015. |
| 03/02/2015 | Petition GRANTED. |
| 03/27/2015 | The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including June 1, 2015. |
| 03/27/2015 | The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 3, 2015. |
| 05/20/2015 | Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party received from counsel for the petitioner. |
| 06/01/2015 | Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.) |
| 06/01/2015 | Brief of petitioner Samuel Ocasio filed. |
| 06/08/2015 | Brief amici curiae of Former United States Attorneys filed. |
| 06/08/2015 | Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed. |
| 07/29/2015 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. |
| 07/30/2015 | Brief of respondent United States filed. |
| 08/07/2015 | CIRCULATED. |
| 08/12/2015 | Record requested from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit. |
| 08/31/2015 | Reply of petitioner Samuel Ocasio filed. (Distributed) |
| 09/15/2015 | Record received from U.S.C.A. 4th Circuit is electronic and located on PACER with the exception of a SEALED electronic document. |
| 10/06/2015 | Argued. For petitioner: Ethan P. Davis, San Francisco, Cal. For respondent: Allon Kedem, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. |
| 05/02/2016 | Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Alito, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion. Sotomayor, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., joined. |
| 06/03/2016 | JUDGMENT ISSUED |