No. 23-5014

Jamie Williams v. United States

Lower Court: Eleventh Circuit
Docketed: 2023-07-03
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2)IFP
Tags: apprendi apprendi-rule crack-cocaine-law crack-cocaine-sentencing discretionary-relief eleventh-circuit first-step-act judicial-discretion sentencing-facts sentencing-reduction
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity Securities Immigration
Latest Conference: 2024-01-05 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Do this Court's First Step Act precedents admit of the uniquely Eleventh Circuit's intermediate step whereby, for the discrete group of individuals still serving sentences imposed before Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 446 (2000), the facts found by the judge at sentencing control the imprisonment range and thus render an individual who is 'eligible' at step one, nevertheless ineligible for relief at the discretionary step two?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED Section 404 of the First Step Act of 2018 sets out two steps to determine whether the imposition of a reduced sentence is warranted for a defendant previously sentenced under unjust crack cocaine sentencing laws. First, Section 404(a) of the Act predicates a defendant’s eligibility to receive a reduced sentence on having a “covered offense.” In Terry v. United States, 141 S. Ct. 1858 (2021), this Court held: (a) whether a defendant has a “covered offense” is determined by the elements of the offense of conviction; and (b) any defendant sentenced for a crack cocaine offense under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(A) or (b)(1)(B), before August 3, 2010, has a “covered offense.” Second, in Concepcion v. United States, 142 S. Ct. 2389 (2022), the Court held that, at the second, discretionary step, under Section 404(b), district courts may consider intervening changes in fact or law, without limitation. The question presented is: Do this Court’s First Step Act precedents admit of the uniquely Eleventh Circuit’s intermediate step whereby, for the discrete group of individuals still serving sentences imposed before i Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 446 (2000), the facts found by the judge at sentencing control the imprisonment range and thus render an individual who is “eligible” at step one, nevertheless ineligible for relief at the discretionary step two?! 1 This same question is also presented in Jackson v. United States, Case No. 22-7728, United States v. Perez, Case No. 22-7794, and United States v. Clowers, Case No. 22-7788. ii

Docket Entries

2024-01-08
Petition DENIED.
2023-12-22
Reply of petitioner Jamie Williams filed. (Distributed)
2023-11-30
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/5/2024.
2023-11-13
Memorandum of respondent United States filed.
2023-09-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including November 13, 2023.
2023-09-19
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 11, 2023 to November 13, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
2023-09-07
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 11, 2023.
2023-09-06
Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 11, 2023 to October 11, 2023, submitted to The Clerk.
2023-08-10
Response Requested. (Due September 11, 2023)
2023-07-13
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/26/2023.
2023-07-06
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2023-06-20
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due August 2, 2023)
2023-05-12
Application (22A987) granted by Justice Thomas extending the time to file until June 22, 2023.
2023-05-09
Application (22A987) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 23, 2023 to June 22, 2023, submitted to Justice Thomas.

Attorneys

Jamie Williams
Lynn Palmer BaileyFederal Public Defender, Petitioner
Lynn Palmer BaileyFederal Public Defender, Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent