Decided
Williams v. Illinois
Holding
The admission of expert testimony about the results of DNA testing performed by non-testifying analysts did not violate the Confrontation Clause.
Judgment
Affirmed, 5-4, in an opinion by Samuel Alito on Jun 18, 2012. Justice Breyer filed his own concurring opinion, while Justice Thomas filed an opinion in which he concurred in the judgment only. Justice Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Scalia, Ginsburg, and Sotomayor joined.
Merits briefs for the Petitioner
Amicus briefs in Support of the Petitioner
- Brief for the California Public Defenders Association et al.
- Brief for the Innocence Network
- Brief for Richard D. Friedman
- Brief for Public Defender Service for the “District of Columbia and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Merits briefs for the Respondent
Amicus briefs in support of the Respondent
- Brief for the United States”
- Brief for National District Attorneys Association et al,
- Brief for the New York County District Attorney’s Office and the New York County Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
- Brief for Ohio et al.
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Related Coverage
Dec 17, 2010Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due February 22, 2011)
Feb 4, 2011Waiver of right of respondent Illinois to respond filed.
Feb 17, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 4, 2011.
Feb 24, 2011Response Requested . (Due March 28, 2011)
Mar 29, 2011Order extending time to file response to petition to and including April 27, 2011.
Apr 27, 2011Brief of respondent Illinois in opposition filed.
May 4, 2011Reply of petitioner Sandy Williams filed. (Distributed)
May 11, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 26, 2011.
Jun 23, 2011DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 27, 2011.
Jun 28, 2011Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED.
Jul 29, 2011The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 31, 2011.
Jul 29, 2011The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including October 19, 2011.
Aug 1, 2011Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the respondent.
Aug 23, 2011Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Aug 31, 2011Brief of petitioner Sandy Williams filed.
Sep 1, 2011Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for the petitioner.
Sep 7, 2011Brief amici curiae of California Public Defenders Association, et al. filed.
Sep 7, 2011Brief amicus curiae of the Innocence Network filed.
Sep 7, 2011Brief amicus curiae of Richard D. Friedman filed.
Sep 7, 2011Brief amici curiae of Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia and National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.
Sep 12, 2011SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday December 6, 2011.
Sep 14, 2011CIRCULATED
Sep 27, 2011Record received from Supreme Court of Illinois. (1 envelope)
Sep 27, 2011Record received from State Appellate Defender First Judicial District. ( 1 box)
Sep 30, 2011Record received from Appellate Court First District of Illinois. (1 envelope)
Oct 19, 2011Brief of respondent Illinois filed. (Distributed)
Oct 26, 2011Brief amicus curiae of the United States filed. (Distributed)
Oct 26, 2011Brief amici curiae of National District Attorneys Association, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Oct 26, 2011Brief amici curiae of New York County District Attorney's Office, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Oct 26, 2011Brief amici curiae of Ohio, et al. filed. (Distributed)
Oct 26, 2011Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Nov 14, 2011Letter from counsel for the petitioner proposing to lodge copies of a written report of a laboratory examination conducted by Cellmark Diagnostics on February 15, 2010. (Distributed)
Nov 18, 2011Reply of petitioner Sandy Williams filed. (Distributed)
Nov 22, 2011Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Nov 25, 2011Letter received from counsel for the respondent objecting to the proposed lodging of the Cellmark Diagnostics report of February 15, 2010. (Distributed)
Nov 30, 2011Petitioner's lodging approved.
Dec 1, 2011Lodging consisting of the forensic report prepared by Cellmark Diagnostics received. (Distributed).
Dec 6, 2011Argued. For petitioner: Brian W. Carroll, Chicago, Ill. For respondent: Anita Alvarez, State's Attorney, Chicago, Ill.; and Michael R. Dreeben, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.)
Jun 18, 2012Adjudged to be AFFIRMED Alito, J., announced the judgment of the Court and delivered an opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy and Breyer, JJ., joined. Breyer, J., filed a concurring opinion. Thomas, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment. Kagan, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Scalia, Ginsburg, and Sotomayor, JJ., joined.
Jul 18, 2012Record returned to Supreme Court of Illinois.
Jul 20, 2012MANDATE ISSUED.
Recommended Citation: Williams v. Illinois, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/williams-v-illinois/