No. 21-5157

Gary Simmonds v. Territory of the Virgin Islands

Lower Court: Third Circuit
Docketed: 2021-07-21
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
IFP
Tags: appellate-procedure appellate-review constitutional-interpretation constitutional-law criminal-law due-process judicial-power jurisdiction lesser-included-offense statutory-construction statutory-interpretation
Key Terms:
DueProcess Jurisdiction JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2021-09-27
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Is a lesser-included-offense of an unconstitutional-statute authorized by federal-statute

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED FOR REVIEW The state court of last resort does not recognize a “lesser included offense” of a wholly unconstitutional statue. In the appeals court, [Petitioner] contends that “a criminal court lacks jurisdiction to enter a conviction of a lesser included offense violating an unconstitutional statute.” Simmonds Br. 16. Contrary to his claim, a “court of appellate jurisdiction ... may remand [a case] and direct the entry of such appropriate judgment, decree, or order ... as may be just under the circumstance.” 28 U.S.C. § 2106. The Appellate Division has “appellate jurisdiction over the courts of the Virgin Islands.” 48 U.S.C. § 1613a (a). Appx. B at 4. Is the appeals court correct? Does 28 U.S.C. § 2106 or any federal statute authorize “a lesser included offense” of an unconstitutional statute, taken from another criminal code section not charged in the complaint, by a federal court noting its departure from the state court’s rule on the same statute? i

Docket Entries

2021-10-04
Petition DENIED.
2021-09-02
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/27/2021.
2021-06-14
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due August 20, 2021)

Attorneys

Gary Simmonds
Kele Chidi OnyejekweOffice of the Territorial Public Defender, Petitioner
Kele Chidi OnyejekweOffice of the Territorial Public Defender, Petitioner