Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Matthew Borges v. United States
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, No. 23-3566 · 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 protects soliciting for, and contributing to, political campaigns based on policies that a candidate agrees to take while in office. To avoid chilling that core speech, this Court’s precedent requires an explicit quid pro quo when the alleged “bribe” is a contribution. Yet some courts, invoking Evans v. United States, allow conviction on ambiguous “in return for” evidence and “as opportunities arise” jury instructions. The question presented is: When alleged bribery rests solely on lawful campaign contributions, must the government prove an explicit, unambiguous quid pro quo conditioning an official act, or may a conviction rest on such ambiguity?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Joseph Alexander Little IV
Litson PLLC
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Proceedings
- Apr 27 2026Petition DENIED.
- Apr 08 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/24/2026.
- Apr 08 2026Reply of petitioner Matthew Borges filed. (Distributed)
- 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 23 2026Brief amici curiae of Robert McDonnell, et al. filed.
- 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 of America to respond filed.
- Dec 22 2025Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due January 28, 2026)
- Oct 28 2025Application (25A485) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until December 22, 2025.
- Oct 23 2025Application (25A485) 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.