Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Benito M. Valdez v. United States
IFP petition · District of Columbia Court of Appeals, No. 18-CF-1340 · judgment August 15, 2024
Certiorari denied · January 12, 2026
Question presented
Is the Sixth Amendment right to a “public trial” violated where the trial court—for the stated purpose of keeping the proceedings private rather than public, but without making any case-specific findings on an overriding need for privacy— conducts an entire phase of the trial at the judge’s bench while using a white-noise machine to prevent anyone in the audience from hearing the trial?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Jaclyn S. Frankfurt
Public Defender Service for DC
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Proceedings
- Jan 12 2026Petition DENIED.
- Dec 17 2025DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
- Dec 15 2025Reply of petitioner Benito M. Valdez filed. (Distributed)
- Dec 03 2025Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
- Oct 22 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including December 3, 2025.
- Oct 20 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 3, 2025 to December 3, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
- Sep 22 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 3, 2025.
- Sep 19 2025Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 3, 2025 to November 3, 2025, submitted to The Clerk.
- Aug 29 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due October 3, 2025)
- Jun 24 2025Application (24A1272) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until August 29, 2025.
- Jun 17 2025Application (24A1272) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from June 30, 2025 to August 29, 2025, submitted to The Chief Justice.