Decided
Tapia v. United States
Holding
18 U.S.C. § 3582(a) does not permit a sentencing court to impose or lengthen a prison term to foster a defendant's rehabilitation.
Judgment
Ninth Circuit reversed, 9-0, in an opinion by Elena Kagan on Jun 16, 2011. Justice Sotomayor filed a concurring opinion, which was joined by Justice Alito.
Related Coverage
Jul 9, 2010Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due August 13, 2010)
Jul 21, 2010Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
Jul 29, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 27, 2010.
Aug 25, 2010Response Requested . (Due September 24, 2010)
Sep 14, 2010Order extending time to file response to petition to and including October 25, 2010.
Oct 25, 2010Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
Oct 29, 2010Reply of petitioner Alejandra Tapia filed.
Nov 9, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of November 23, 2010.
Nov 29, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 3, 2010.
Dec 6, 2010DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 10, 2010.
Dec 10, 2010Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED.
Jan 10, 2011Stephanos Bibas, Esquire, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is invited to brief and argue this case, as amicus curiae, in support of the position that 18 U.S.C. §3582(a) allows district courts to consider rehabilitative need in setting the length and term of imprisonment.
Jan 18, 2011The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including January 31, 2011.
Jan 18, 2011The time to file the Court-appointed brief of amicus curiae is extended to and including March 10, 2011.
Jan 18, 2011Any reply brief on the merits will be filed on or before April 8, 2011.
Jan 31, 2011Brief of respondent United States supporting vacatur filed.
Jan 31, 2011Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed)
Jan 31, 2011Brief of petitioner Alejandra Tapia filed.
Jan 31, 2011Motion to file Volume II of the joint appendix under seal filed by petitioner Alejandra Tapia.
Feb 7, 2011SET FOR ARGUMENT ON Monday, April 18, 2011.
Feb 15, 2011CIRCULATED.
Feb 16, 2011Motion DISTRIBUTED for Conference of March 4, 2011.
Mar 7, 2011Motion to file Volume II of the joint appendix under seal GRANTED.
Mar 9, 2011Record received from U.S.C.A. for 9th Circuit. (1 envelope)
Mar 10, 2011Brief amicus curiae of Court-appointed amicus curiae filed. (Distributed)
Mar 14, 2011Partial record received from U.S.D.C. for Southern District of California. (1 envelope) This is the sealed portion of the record. The remainder of the record is electronic.
Mar 16, 2011Motion for divided argument filed by respondent United States supporting vacatur.
Apr 4, 2011Motion for divided argument filed by respondent GRANTED.
Apr 8, 2011Reply of respondent United States supporting vacatur filed. (Distributed)
Apr 11, 2011Reply of petitioner Alejandra Tapia filed. (Distributed)
Apr 18, 2011Argued. For petitioner: Reuben C. Cahn, San Diego, Cal. For respondent in support of vacatur: Matthew D. Roberts, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For amicus curiae: Stephanos Bibas, Philadelphia, Pa. (Appointed by this Court.)
Jun 16, 2011Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Kagan, J. delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court. Sotomayor, J., filed a concurring opinion, in which Alito, J., joined.
Jul 18, 2011JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Jul 19, 2011Record returned to U.S.C.D. for Southern District of California.
Recommended Citation: Tapia v. United States, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/tapia-v-united-states/