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United States Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., Inc.

Docket No. Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
15-290 Mar 30, 2016 Apr 23, 2025 8-0 Roberts OT 2015

Holding: An approved jurisdictional determination by the United States Army Corps of Engineers definitively stating the presence or absence of waters of the United States on a particular property is a final agency action judicially reviewable under the Administrative Procedure Act.

Judgment: Affirmed, 8-0, in an opinion by Chief Justice Roberts on April 23, 2025. Justice Kennedy filed a concurring opinion, in which Justices Thomas and Alito joined. Justice Kagan filed a concurring opinion. Justice Ginsburg filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment.

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
09/08/2015Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 9, 2015)
09/14/2015Waiver of right of respondents Hawkes Co., Inc., et al. to respond filed.
09/23/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 9, 2015.
09/28/2015Response Requested . (Due October 28, 2015)
10/06/2015Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by The National Association of Home Builders.
10/08/2015Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for respondent Hawkes Co., Inc..
10/27/2015Response to petition from respondents Hawkes Co., Inc., et al. filed.
11/10/2015Reply of petitioner United States Army Corps of Engineers filed.
11/17/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 4, 2015.
12/07/2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 11, 2015.
12/11/2015Motion for leave to file amicus brief filed by The National Association of Home Builders GRANTED.
12/11/2015Petition GRANTED.
01/19/2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party received from counsel for the respondents.
01/22/2016Joint appendix filed. (Statement of cost filed.)
01/22/2016Brief of petitioner United States Army Corps of Engineers filed.
01/29/2016SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Wednesday, March 30, 2016
02/03/2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs in support of either party or of neither party received from counsel for the petitioner.
02/08/2016Record requested from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit.
02/08/2016The time to file respondents' brief on the merits is extended to and including February 24, 2016.
02/10/2016CIRCULATED.
02/17/2016Record received from the U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit. (1 Box)
02/24/2016Brief of respondents Hawkes Co., Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/01/2016Brief amicus curiae of Cause of Action Institute filed. (Distributed)
03/01/2016Brief amici curiae of American Farm Bureau Federation, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/01/2016Brief amicus curiae of Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence filed. (Distributed)
03/01/2016Brief amicus curiae of The Cato Institute filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of Foundation for Environmental and Economic Progress, and Utility Water Act Group filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of the Council of State Governments, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amicus curiae of National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amicus curiae of Southeastern Legal Foundation filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of Ernest M. Park and Lauren Kent Park filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amicus curiae of Mountain States Legal Foundation filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of West Virginia, Ohio, and 21 Other States filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amicus curiae of The Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America filed.
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of California Farm Bureau Federation, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of Ohio Chamber of Commerce, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of States of North Dakota, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/02/2016Brief amici curiae of The National Association of Home Builders, et al. filed. (Distributed)
03/23/2016Reply of petitioner United States Army Corps of Engineers filed. (Distributed)
03/30/2016Argued. For petitioner: Malcolm L. Stewart, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondents: M. Reed Hopper, Sacramento, Cal.
05/31/2016Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Thomas, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Kennedy, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Thomas and Alito, JJ., joined. Kagan, J., filed a concurring opinion. Ginsburg, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment.
07/05/2016JUDGMENT ISSUED
08/18/2016Record from U.S.C.A. 8th Circuit has been returned.