No. 18-854

George Alvarez v. City of Brownsville, Texas

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2019-01-04
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (2)Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)
Tags: brady-disclosure brady-v-maryland criminal-defendant criminal-procedure due-process exculpatory-evidence monell-liability municipal-liability plea-agreement plea-bargaining united-states-v-ruiz
Key Terms:
DueProcess JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2019-06-06 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether due process requires the government to disclose exculpatory evidence before entering a plea agreement with a criminal defendant

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

question presented is whether due process requires the government to disclose exculpatory evidence before entering a plea agreement with a criminal defendant. 2. Three essential elements must be established for a municipality to face §1983 liability. There must be: (1) a policy maker; (2) an official policy; and (8) a violation of a constitutional right whose “moving force” is the policy or custom. Monell v Dep’ of Soc. Serus., 436 U.S. 658, 694 (1978). The Court of Appeals held a) that the City’s existing nondisclosure policy was not the cause of the nondisclosure of exculpatory evidence and b) the nondisclosure policy was not promulgated with deliberate indifference because said policy was not a municipal requirement. The question presented is whether a ruling that no causation or deliberate indifference can be found where municipal actors “could have” hypothetically chosen not to follow City policy impermissibly elevates the § 1983 municipal liability causation and deliberate indifference standards.

Docket Entries

2019-06-10
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Law Professors GRANTED.
2019-06-10
Petition DENIED.
2019-05-21
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/6/2019.
2019-05-01
Brief of respondent City of Brownsville, Texas in opposition filed.
2019-03-18
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including May 1, 2019.
2019-03-12
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 4, 2019 to May 1, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-02-13
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including April 4, 2019.
2019-02-11
Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 4, 2019 to April 4, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-01-31
Response Requested. (Due March 4, 2019)
2019-01-23
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/15/2019.
2019-01-22
Motion for leave to file amici brief filed by Law Professors. (Distributed)
2019-01-14
Waiver of right of respondent City of Brownsville, Texas to respond filed.
2018-12-14
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 4, 2019)

Attorneys

City of Brownsville, Texas
Ramon G. Viada IIIViada & Strayer, Respondent
George Alvarez
Eduardo LucioThe Law Office of Eddie Lucio, Petitioner
Law Professors
Thomas William McGee IIINelson Mullins Riley and Scarborough, LLP, Amicus