No. 24-5329

Timothy Scott Hardin v. United States

Lower Court: Fourth Circuit
Docketed: 2024-08-15
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: age-of-consent categorical-approach circuit-split federal-criminal-law sentencing-enhancement statutory-interpretation
Latest Conference: 2024-09-30
Question Presented (from Petition)

Under federal law, the Model Penal Code, and the laws of 39 states and the District of Columbia, consensual sex between a 21-year-old and a 17-year-old is legal. In 11 states, such conduct is criminalized.

The question presented is whether, under the categorical approach, a conviction under one of those 11 states' statutes "relat[es] to... abusive sexual conduct involving a minor" and thus serves as a predicate for the sentencing enhancements in Sections 2252 and 2252A of title 18 of the U.S. Code.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a conviction under state statutes criminalizing consensual sex between a 21-year-old and a 17-year-old qualifies as 'abusive sexual conduct involving a minor' for federal sentencing enhancement purposes

Docket Entries

2024-10-07
Petition DENIED.
2024-09-12
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/30/2024.
2024-09-04
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2024-08-13
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due September 16, 2024)
2024-06-26
Application (23A1154) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until August 14, 2024.
2024-06-21
Application (23A1154) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from July 15, 2024 to August 14, 2024, submitted to The Chief Justice.

Attorneys

Timothy Scott Hardin
Joshua Brown CarpenterFederal Defenders of Western North Carolina, Inc., Petitioner
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent