Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
Winston Pinnock v. United States
IFP petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, No. 25-10008 · judgment April 16, 2026
Questions presented
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Whether the prosecution of a foreign citizen on a foreignregistered boat for drug activity outside of and having no connection to the United States violates the Fifth Amendment’s Due Process Clause— a question that divides the Circuits?
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Whether Congress’s authority “[t]o define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas,” U.S. Const. Art. I, § 8, cl. 10, permits it to criminalize drug conduct, having no connection to the United States, by a foreign citizen on a foreign-registered boat?
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Whether Congress’s authority “[t]o define and punish Piracies and Felonies committed on the high Seas,” U.S. Const. Art. I, § 8, cl. 10, permits it to criminalize drug conduct committed within a foreign nation’s exclusive economic zone?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
M. Allison Guagliardo
Office of the Federal Defender
For respondent
D. John Sauer
Solicitor General
Case
Conference history
Distributed for 1 conference
Proceedings
- Oct 08 2026DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/6/2026.
- Oct 02 2026Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
- Sep 18 2026Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due October 23, 2026)