No. 21-183

Gas Pipe, Inc., et al. v. United States

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2021-08-09
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Experienced Counsel
Tags: appellate-review conspiracy conspiracy-to-defraud constitutional-error criminal-law defraud-clause government-function harmless-error jury-instruction jury-instructions
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2021-11-12
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether 18 U.S.C. § 371's defraud clause reaches any conspiracy whose object is to interfere with any lawful government function, even if not targeted at the government's money or property or an ongoing or reasonably foreseeable governmental proceeding

Question Presented (from Petition)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED 1. Whether 18 U.S.C. § 371’s defraud clause, which in relevant part prohibits conspiracies “to defraud the United States,” reaches any conspiracy whose object is to interfere with any lawful government function, even if not targeted at the government’s money or property or an ongoing or reasonably foreseeable governmental proceeding. 2. Whether a court of appeals reviewing a district court’s failure to instruct the jury as to an element of the offense can find the constitutional error harmless based solely on the court of appeals’ assessment of the strength of the government’s evidence, without considering the defendant’s countervailing evidence or other factors supporting acquittal.

Docket Entries

2021-11-15
Petition DENIED.
2021-10-27
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/12/2021.
2021-10-27
Reply of petitioners Gas Pipe, Inc., et al. filed. (Distributed)
2021-10-08
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2021-09-02
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 8, 2021.
2021-09-01
Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 8, 2021 to October 8, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-08-05
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 8, 2021)

Attorneys

Gas Pipe, Inc., et al.
Jeffrey L. FisherO'Melveny & Myers LLP, Petitioner
Jeffrey L. FisherO'Melveny & Myers LLP, Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent