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Isabel Rico v. United States

Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, No. 24-2662 · judgment March 6, 2025


Decided · March 25, 2026
Pre-decision estimate: 19% cert probability (95% interval 13%–26%)

Before the decision, about 4.5× the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for a petition filed soon after the judgment below, counsel who has won certiorari before, and a Ninth Circuit decision below.

Question presented

Whether the fugitive-tolling doctrine applies in the context of supervised release.

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Adam G. Unikowsky
Jenner & Block LLP

For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General

Case

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Amicus briefs
4 merits
(4 supporting pet./neither)

Argument & decision

Argued November 3, 2025 — Adam G. Unikowsky · Joshua K. Handell. Audio and transcript

Decided March 25, 2026. Opinion by Gorsuch.

Proceedings

  1. Apr 27 2026
    Judgment Issued.
  2. Mar 25 2026
    Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Gorsuch, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas, Sotomayor, Kagan, Kavanaugh, Barrett, and Jackson, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed a dissenting opinion.
  3. Nov 03 2025
    Argued. For petitioner: Adam G. Unikowsky, Washington, D. C. For respondent: Joshua K. Handell, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C.
  4. Oct 15 2025
    Reply of petitioner Isabel Rico filed. (Distributed)
  5. Sep 30 2025
    Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
  6. Sep 30 2025
    CIRCULATED
  7. Sep 25 2025
    Record received electronically from the United States District Court for the Central District of California and available with the Clerk.
  8. Sep 15 2025
    Brief of respondent United States filed.
  9. Sep 02 2025
    Sealed material received electronically from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and available with the Clerk. The remainder of the record is electronic and is available on PACER.
  10. Aug 21 2025
    Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers filed.
  11. Aug 21 2025
    Brief amicus curiae of Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center filed.
  12. Aug 20 2025
    Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
  13. Aug 20 2025
    Brief amicus curiae of Due Process Institute filed.
  14. Aug 15 2025
    Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Federal Defenders filed.
  15. Aug 14 2025
    Brief of petitioner Isabel Rico filed.
  16. Aug 12 2025
    SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, November 3, 2025.
  17. Jul 21 2025
    Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Isabel Rico.
  18. Jun 30 2025
    Petition GRANTED.
  19. Jun 10 2025
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/26/2025.
  20. Jun 10 2025
    Reply of petitioner Isabel Rico filed. (Distributed)
  21. Jun 06 2025
    Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
  22. Jun 06 2025
    Waiver of the 14-day waiting period for the distribution of the petition pursuant to Rule 15.5 filed by petitioner.
  23. May 01 2025
    Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including June 6, 2025.
  24. Apr 30 2025
    Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 7, 2025 to June 6, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
  25. Apr 03 2025
    Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 7, 2025)