Supreme Court Report

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Shawn Russell Sorensen v. United States

IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, No. 23-1593 · judgment June 2, 2025

Certiorari denied · October 5, 2026

Questions presented

  1. WHETHER A PANEL FOR THE EIGHTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN DETERMINING THAT SORENSEN’S TWO PRIOR STATE CONVICTIONS QUALIFIED AS FELONY DRUG OFFENSES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ENHANCEMENT OF § 851 IMPOSED LIFE SENTENCE.

  2. WHETHER SORENSEN'S TWO PRIOR STATE CONVICTIONS QUALIFY AS FELONY DRUG OFFENSES FOR THE PURPOSE OF § 841. ARE THE TWO STATE CONVICTIONS OVERBROAD AS A RESULT OF STATE DRUG SCHEDULES? IF SO, ARE THE TWO STATE STATUTES INDIVISIBLE? 05/1V2026’

Counsel of record

For petitioner
Shawn Russell Sorensen

For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General

Case

Subject area
Criminal Procedure (estimated from the questions presented, in the Supreme Court Database’s categories)

Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference

Linked docket
25A535

Order
Order list, October 5, 2026 · Certiorari denied

Proceedings

  1. Oct 05 2026
    Petition DENIED.
  2. Jul 16 2026
    DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/28/2026.
  3. Jul 09 2026
    Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
    Main Document
  4. Jan 08 2026
    Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due July 30, 2026)
    Motion for Leave to Proceed in Forma PauperisPetitionAppendixProof of Service
  5. Nov 07 2025
    Application (25A535) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from November 11, 2025 to January 10, 2026, submitted to Justice Kavanaugh.
    Main Document
  6. Nov 07 2025
    Application (25A535) granted by Justice Kavanaugh extending the time to file until January 10, 2026.