Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Joel Zavala-Garcia v. United States
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, No. 25-10895 · judgment January 14, 2026
Question presented
Should Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224 (1998), be overruled? LIST OF PARTIES Joel Zavala-Garcia, petitioner on review, was the Defendant-Appellant below. The United States of America, respondent on review, was Plaintiff-Appellee. No party is a corporation. RELATED PROCEEDINGS • United States v. Zavala-Garcia, No. 5:25-CR-00061, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Judgment entered on July 31, 2025. • United States v. Zavala-Garcia, No. 25-10895, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judgment entered on January 14, 2026.
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Christy Posnett Martin
Federal Public Defender-Northern District of Texas
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Case
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Proceedings
- May 26 2026Petition DENIED.
- May 06 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/21/2026.
- Apr 30 2026Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
- Apr 07 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due May 11, 2026)