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Williams v. United States

Petition for certiorari denied on October 5, 2020

Docket No. Op. Below Argument Opinion Vote Author Term
19-1221 10th Cir. N/A N/A N/A N/A OT 2020

Issue: Whether, to conduct a warrantless forensic search of a digital device at the border, government agents need reasonable suspicion that the device contains digital contraband (as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit requires), reasonable suspicion that the device contains evidence of a particular crime with a nexus to the purposes of the border-search exception to the warrant requirement (as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit requires), reasonable suspicion of any kind of criminal activity (which suffices in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit), or no suspicion whatsoever (as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit permits).

SCOTUSblog Coverage

DateProceedings and Orders (key to color coding)
01/29/2020Application (19A863) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from February 12, 2020 to April 12, 2020, submitted to Justice Sotomayor.
01/31/2020Application (19A863) granted by Justice Sotomayor extending the time to file until April 13, 2020.
04/13/2020Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 18, 2020)
05/08/2020Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 18, 2020 to June 17, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
05/11/2020Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 17, 2020.
06/10/2020Motion to extend the time to file a response from June 17, 2020 to June 19, 2020, submitted to The Clerk.
06/11/2020Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including June 19, 2020.
06/19/2020Brief of respondent United States of America in opposition filed.
07/07/2020Reply of petitioner Derrick Lucius Williams, Jr. filed. (Distributed)
07/08/2020DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2020.
09/08/2020Supplemental brief of petitioner Derrick Lucius Williams, Jr. filed. (Distributed)
10/05/2020Petition DENIED.