No. 25-6314
Jose Fernando Lopez-Anchundia v. United States
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: constitutional-power criminal-prosecution drug-enforcement extraterritorial-jurisdiction international-law maritime-law
Latest Conference:
2026-01-09
Related Cases:
25-6270
(Vide)
Question Presented (from Petition)
1. Does Congress's power "[t]o define and punish . . . Felonies committed on the high Seas," authorize the United States to impose its laws upon foreign nationals for wholly foreign crimes committed in a foreign nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?
2. Is the United States' prosecution of foreign nationals under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act ("MDLEA") unconstitutional where neither the individual nor his offense bears any nexus to the United States?
Question Presented (AI Summary)
Does Congress's power to define and punish felonies on the high Seas authorize extraterritorial prosecution of foreign nationals for crimes committed in a foreign nation's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)?
Docket Entries
2026-01-12
Petition DENIED.
2025-12-17
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/9/2026.
2025-12-11
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-12-01
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due January 7, 2026)
Attorneys
Jose Lopez-Anchundia
Kenneth Swartz — Swartz Law Firm, Petitioner
United States
D. John Sauer — Solicitor General, Respondent