No. 25-5691
Bradford Allen Thompson v. Texas
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: abstract-beliefs constitutional-law first-amendment non-capital-felony relevancy-standard sentencing-evidence
Key Terms:
FirstAmendment DueProcess
FirstAmendment DueProcess
Latest Conference:
2025-11-07
Question Presented (AI Summary)
Whether the First Amendment prohibition against using a defendant's 'abstract beliefs' applies to non-capital felony cases and whether the Court should revisit Dawson's standard for relevancy inquiry
Question Presented (OCR Extract)
Whether Dawson u. Delaware’s I First Amendment prohibition against using a defendant’s “abstract beliefs” (in this case, an interest in Nazi literature and Petitioner’s SS lightning-bolt tattoos) as sentencing evidence applies to non-capital felony cases and more importantly, should this Court revisit Dawson and adopt an appropriate standard to guide a Dawson relevancy inquiry? 503 U.S. 159 (1992).
Docket Entries
2025-11-10
Petition DENIED.
2025-10-16
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/7/2025.
2025-10-02
Waiver of right of respondent State of Texas to respond filed.
2025-09-16
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due October 20, 2025)
Attorneys
Bradford Thompson
James Allen Rasmussen — Rasmussen Law Office, Petitioner
State of Texas
John Staley Heatly — Respondent