Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Larry Householder v. United States
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, No. 23-3565 · judgment May 6, 2025
Before the decision, well below the 4.1% base rate, with no standout signals pointing toward a grant.
Question presented
The First Amendment’s protection of political speech ensures that a political contribution will not constitute extortion under 18 U.S.C. § 1951 or honest services fraud under 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343, 1346 unless the candidate and donor make an “explicit” quid pro quo agreement that an official act is a condition for the acceptance of the contribution. McCormick v. United States, 500 U.S. 257 (1991). The question presented is: Is McCormick’s requirement of a “quid pro quo” satisfied when a political candidate accepts a political contribution knowing that the donor believes the candidate will take official action because of the contribution?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Steven Larry Bradley
Marein and Bradley
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Proceedings
- Apr 27 2026Petition DENIED.
- Apr 15 2026Reply of petitioner Larry Householder filed. (Distributed)
- Apr 08 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/24/2026.
- Mar 25 2026Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed. VIDED.
- Feb 23 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 25, 2026.
- Feb 20 2026Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 23, 2026 to March 25, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
- Jan 23 2026Response Requested. (Due February 23, 2026)
- Jan 14 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
- Jan 12 2026Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
- Dec 22 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 28, 2026)
- Oct 10 2025Application (25A414) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until December 22, 2025.
- Oct 07 2025Application (25A414) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from October 23, 2025 to December 22, 2025, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.