2016 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Clarence Thomas

Buck v. Davis

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

certificate of appealability • Sixth Amendment • ineffective assistance of counsel • jury consideration of race in imposing death penalty

Alito

Bethune-Hill v. Virginia State Bd. of Elections

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

consideration of race in legislative redistricting • Equal Protection Clause • Voting Rights Act

Pena-Rodriguez v. Colorado

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

Sixth Amendment • racial bias expressed during jury deliberation • no-impeachment rule

Beckles v. United States

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

Federal Sentencing Guidelines • residual clause • Due Process Clause • void for vagueness doctrine

Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Alito

Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998

Sotomayor

Leonard v. Texas

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

Due Process Clause • civil forfeiture

Thomas filed a statement respecting the Court's denial of certiorari.

Baston v. United States

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

Foreign Commerce Clause • restitution award to victim of extraterritorial sex trafficking

Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.

NLRB v. SW General, Inc

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

Sotomayor

Manuel v. Joliet

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

Fourth Amendment • unlawful pretrial detention

Kagan

Star Athletica, L. L. C. v. Varsity Brands, Inc.

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

copyright law • features incorporated into design of useful articles

Roberts, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan

Czyzewski v. Jevic Holding Corp.

580 U.S. ___ (2017)

bankruptcy law • Chapter 11 • Article III standing • creditor priority in structured dismissal

Alito

Coventry Health Care of Mo., Inc. v. Nevils

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959 • state law prohibition of insurance carrier subrogation and reimbursement • federal preemption

Manrique v. United States

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure • appeal from amended judgment for restitution

Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Alito, Kagan

Nelson v. Colorado

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Fourteenth Amendment • Due Process Clause • refund of fines, costs, and restitution after reversal of conviction

Lewis v. Clarke

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

tribal sovereign immunity • extraterritorial tribal commercial activity

Sotomayor

Bank of America Corp. v. Miami

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Fair Housing Act • municipality as aggrieved person to bring suit

Kennedy, Alito

Howell v. Howell

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Uniformed Services Former Spouses' Protection Act • indemnification of post-divorce waiver of military retirement pay • federal preemption

Kindred Nursing Centers, L. P. v. Clark

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Federal Arbitration Act • power of attorney authority to agree to arbitration • federal preemption

Kagan

TC Heartland LLC v. Kraft Foods Group Brands LLC

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

patent law • venue • corporate residence

Roberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan

Cooper v. Harris

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Fourteenth Amendment • Equal Protection Clause • legislative redistricting on the basis of race • Voting Rights Act

Kagan

Esquivel-Quintana v. Sessions

581 U.S. ___ (2017)

Immigration and Nationality Act • removal proceedings for aggravated felony conviction • federal classification of statutory rape

Roberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan

Sandoz Inc v. Amgen Inc.

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009 • patent law • availability of injunction to enforce biosimilar drug application requirements

Unanimous

Microsoft Corp. v. Baker

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

appealability of denial of class allegations after voluntary dismissal by named plaintiffs

Roberts, Alito

Sessions v. Morales-Santana

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

Immigration and Nationality Act • Fifth Amendment • equal protection • citizenship based on physical presence in U.S. of unwed mother or father prior to birth

Alito

Ziglar v. Abbasi

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

detentions following the September 11 attacks • Fifth Amendment • Due Process Clause • equal protection • Fourth Amendment • implied cause of action

Matal v. Tam

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

trademark law • First Amendment • free speech • disparaging trademarks

Weaver v. Massachusetts

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

Sixth Amendment • public trial violation • ineffective assistance of counsel • preservation of error

Gorsuch

Jae Lee v. United States

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

Sixth Amendment • ineffective assistance of counsel • effect of conviction on immigration status

Alito (in part)

Murr v. Wisconsin

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

Fourteenth Amendment • regulatory taking • treatment of separate parcels under common ownership

Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

First Amendment • Free Exercise Clause • Establishment Clause • eligibility of religious organization for government grant

Gorsuch

Davila v. Davis

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

Sixth Amendment • ineffective assistance of counsel • procedural default • failure of habeas counsel to raise failure by appellate counsel

Roberts, Kennedy, Alito, Gorsuch

Hernandez v. Mesa

582 U.S. ___ (2017)

Fourth Amendment • cross-border shooting of foreign national by federal law enforcement • implied right of action

per curiam