Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
John Hotaling v. United States
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, No. 24-434, 24-436 · judgment August 21, 2025
Certiorari denied · February 23, 2026
Question presented
- Whether the government breaches a plea agreement, and violates due process under Santobello v. New York, 404 U.S. 257 (1971), when it enters into an agreement containing a section labeled “Sentencing Stipulations” specifying certain Sentencing Guidelines adjustments, but later endorses additional Guidelines enhancements not listed in those stipulations at sentencing based on generalized disclaimer language elsewhere in the agreement—thereby substantially increasing the defendant’s sentencing exposure beyond what the plea reasonably conveyed and the defendant reasonably understood
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Sarah Kunstler
Law Office of Sarah Kunstler
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Case
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Proceedings
- Feb 23 2026Petition DENIED.
- Jan 29 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
- Jan 21 2026Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
- Jan 12 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due February 13, 2026)