No. 25-6038

Daniel Stewart v. United States

Lower Court: Seventh Circuit
Docketed: 2025-11-05
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
IFP Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-law auer-deference circuit-split judicial-interpretation sentencing-guidelines statutory-construction
Latest Conference: N/A
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Pursuant to Kisor, are courts obligated first to determine whether a sentencing guideline is ambiguous before affording deference to the Sentencing Commission's commentary interpreting the guideline?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

In Stinson v. United States , 508 U.S. 36 (1993), this Court held that commentary by the United States Sentencing Commission interpreting or explaining the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines is subject to Seminole Rock deference, now known as Auer deference. Id. at 38. In Kisor v. Wilkie , 588 U.S. 558 (2019), this Court identified strict limits on the Seminole Rock and Auer deference upon which Stinson is based, confirming that courts should defer only to reasonable interpretations of regulations that are “ genuinely ambiguous. ” Id. at 576. The federal circuits are now split as to whether Kisor ’s clarifications of Auer deference apply to Stinson and the Sentencing Guidelines. Some apply the rules articulated in Kisor , while other s apply “Stinson deference” and ignore Kisor . The questions presented are: 1. Pursuant to Kisor , are courts obligated first to determine whether a sentencing guideline is ambiguous before affording deference to the Sentencing Commission ’s commentary interpreting the guideline? 2. When calculating Daniel Stewart ’s guideline range , did the courts below err by relying on the Sentencing Commission ’s commentary to interpret § 4B1.1 of the Sentencing Guidelines , instead of § 4B1.1’ s plain text ?

Docket Entries

2025-12-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including February 19, 2026.
2025-12-19
Motion of United States for an extension of time submitted.
2025-12-19
Motion to extend the time to file a response from January 5, 2026 to February 19, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-11-26
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including January 5, 2026.
2025-11-25
Motion of United States for an extension of time submitted.
2025-11-25
Motion to extend the time to file a response from December 5, 2025 to January 5, 2026, submitted to The Clerk.
2025-10-31
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due December 5, 2025)

Attorneys

Daniel Stewart
Michael Will RoyFederal Public Defender Central District of Ill., Petitioner
Michael Will RoyFederal Public Defender Central District of Ill., Petitioner
Michael Will RoyFederal Public Defender Central District of Ill., Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent