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FNU Tanzin, et al. v. Muhammad Tanvir, et al.

Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, No. 16-1176 · judgment June 25, 2018

Decided · December 10, 2020
Pre-decision estimate: 6% cert probability (95% interval 4%–8%)

Before the decision, modestly above the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for a Second Circuit decision below, a circuit split argued in the petition, and a dissent in the court below (flagged in the petition).

Question presented

Whether the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq., permits suits seeking money damages against individual federal employees. PRESS RELEASE OF MARCH 16, 2020 IN KEEPING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH PRECAUTIONS RECOMMENDED IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, THE SUPREME COURT IS POSTPONING THE ORAL ARGUMENTS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR THE MARCH SESSION. 4/13/2020: ARGUMENT TO BE RESCHEDULED FOR THE OCTOBER TERM 2020

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Jeffrey B. Wall
Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

For respondent
Ramzi Kassem
City University of New York School of Law

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 2 conferences

Amicus briefs
15 merits
(2 supporting pet./neither, 13 respondent)

Argument & decision

Argued October 6, 2020 — Edwin S. Kneedler · Ramzi Kassem. Audio and transcript

Decided December 10, 2020. Opinion by Thomas.

Proceedings

  1. Jan 11 2021
    JUDGMENT ISSUED.
  2. Dec 10 2020
    Adjudged to be AFFIRMED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which all other Members joined, except Barrett, J., who took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
  3. Oct 06 2020
    Argued. For petitioners: Edwin S. Kneedler, Deputy Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. For respondents: Ramzi Kassem, Long Island City, N. Y.
  4. Jul 13 2020
    SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
  5. Apr 13 2020
    Argument to be rescheduled for the October Term 2020.
  6. Mar 16 2020
    ORAL ARGUMENT POSTPONED.
  7. Mar 06 2020
    Reply of petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al. filed. (Distributed)
  8. Feb 20 2020
    Record from the USCA 2nd Circuit received electronically.
  9. Feb 19 2020
    Record requested from the U.S.C.A. 2nd Circuit.
  10. Feb 19 2020
    CIRCULATED
  11. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of The Sikh Coalition filed.
  12. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of Jeffrey D. Kahn filed.
  13. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee filed.
  14. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of The Rutherford Institute filed.
  15. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amici curiae of Statutory Interpretation Scholars filed.
  16. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty filed.
  17. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amici curiae of Religious and Civil-Rights Organizations filed.
  18. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists filed.
  19. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of Muslim Advocates filed.
  20. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amicus curiae of Institute for Justice filed.
  21. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amici curiae of 67 Religious Organizations filed.
  22. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amici curiae of Fourteen Religious-Liberty Scholars, et al. filed.
  23. Feb 12 2020
    Brief amici curiae of Religious Organizations, Public Speakers and Scholars filed.
  24. Feb 05 2020
    Brief of respondents Muhammad Tanvir, et al. filed.
  25. Jan 31 2020
    SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.
  26. Jan 28 2020
    Blanket Consent filed by Respondents, Muhammad Tanvir, et al.
  27. Jan 13 2020
    Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioners GRANTED.
  28. Jan 13 2020
    Brief amici curiae of American Atheists, Center for Inquiry, et al. filed.
  29. Jan 13 2020
    Brief amici curiae of Freedom From Religion Foundation, et al. in support of neither party filed.
  30. Jan 06 2020
    Brief of petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al. filed.
  31. Dec 18 2019
    Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al.
  32. Nov 22 2019
    Petition GRANTED.
  33. Nov 18 2019
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/22/2019.
  34. Oct 30 2019
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/15/2019.
  35. Oct 30 2019
    Reply of petitioners FNU Tanzin, et al. filed. (Distributed)
  36. Oct 11 2019
    Brief of respondents Muhammad Tanvir, et al. in opposition filed.
  37. Aug 02 2019
    Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 11, 2019.
  38. Jul 29 2019
    Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 12, 2019 to October 11, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
  39. Jul 25 2019
    Motion of Muhammad Tanvir, et al. for an extension of time not accepted for filing. (July 26, 2019 -- Corrected version to be submitted)
  40. Jul 12 2019
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due August 12, 2019)
  41. Jun 04 2019
    Application (18A1135) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until July 14, 2019.
  42. Jun 03 2019
    Application (18A1135) to extend further the time from June 14, 2019 to July 14, 2019, submitted to Justice Ginsburg.
    Written RequestProof of Service
  43. May 08 2019
    Application (18A1135) granted by Justice Ginsburg extending the time to file until June 14, 2019.
  44. May 03 2019
    Application (18A1135) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 15, 2019 to June 14, 2019, submitted to Justice Ginsburg.
    Main DocumentLower Court Orders/OpinionsProof of Service