Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Jernice Hamilton, aka Garnaris Hamilton v. United States
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, No. 2024-2200 · judgment August 14, 2025
Question presented
I Whether a military separation is void ab initio when the Department of the Army fails to provide the mandatory ‘Full and Fair Hearing “required by 10 U.S.C. 1214, based upon an official government record (VA BIRLS) erroneously reporting the service Member as ‘Deceased? II. Whether the government violates the Due Process Clause and 10 U.S.C. 1214 when it administratively declares a living service member "deceased," subsequently denying benefits based on "noshows" for evaluations the Petitioner was legally barred from attending, and whether such a "state-created barrier" requires a mandatory finding of Constructive Active- Duty Service for the period of the error. III. Whether a reviewing court commits reversible error by failing to apply the 5 U.S.C. 706 "Hard Look" standard—an omission conceded by the Government - thereby insulating a 38-year-old structural error (including five misdiagnoses and a false death report) from the full retroactive relief now mandated by Soto v. United States (2025). IV Whether the Adamo Wrecking Doctrine and 5 U.S.C.706 require a reviewing Court to set aside a military discharge as Void Ab Initio when the Government's own record admits the Petitioner met medical referral standards " prior to discharge “But was denied the mandatory " full and fair hearing " required by 10U.S.C.1214
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Jernice Hamilton
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Proceedings
- Aug 17 2026Rehearing DENIED.
- Jul 23 2026DISTRIBUTED.
- Jun 09 2026Petition for Rehearing filed.
- Jun 01 2026Petition DENIED.
- May 13 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/28/2026.
- May 07 2026Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
- Apr 04 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due May 14, 2026)
- Feb 04 2026Application (25A876) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until April 5, 2026.
- Jan 15 2026Application (25A876) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from February 4, 2026 to April 5, 2026, submitted to The Chief Justice.