Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Antonio Lamont Lightfoot v. United States
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, No. 21-7447 · judgment October 18, 2024
Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.
Question presented
The three-strikes law, 18 U.S.C. § 3559(c), mandates a life sentence for a defendant convicted of a “serious violent felony” if the defendant has two prior convictions for “serious violent felonies,” defined to include a list of enumerated offenses. This Court uses the “categorical approach” to determine whether a state conviction qualifies as a predicate offense under federal laws with this type of formulation. The question presented, on which the circuits are deeply split, is: Whether there is a categorical mismatch when the elements of the predicate state offense, by their plain language, criminalize conduct outside the enumerated offense, with no further inquiry required or permitted.
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Richard A. Simpson
Wiley Rein, LLP
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Proceedings
- Oct 06 2025Petition DENIED.
- Sep 03 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/29/2025.
- Aug 29 2025Reply of petitioner Antonio Lamont Lightfoot filed. (Distributed)
- Aug 18 2025Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
- Jul 14 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including August 18, 2025.
- Jul 11 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 17, 2025 to August 18, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
- Jun 17 2025Response Requested. (Due July 17, 2025)
- Jun 10 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/26/2025.
- Jun 05 2025Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
- May 15 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due June 18, 2025)
- Mar 05 2025Application (24A839) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until May 15, 2025.
- Feb 27 2025Application (24A839) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from March 16, 2025 to May 15, 2025, submitted to The Chief Justice.