No. 25-6416

Omar Anthony Quintero-Arias v. United States

Lower Court: Ninth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-12-22
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: appellate-review circuit-split harmless-error sentencing-factors statutory-interpretation supervised-release
Latest Conference: 2026-02-20
Question Presented (from Petition)

Though district courts have discretion to impose appropriate conditions of supervised release, that discretion is limited by 18 U.S.C. § 3583. See Concepcion v. United States, 597 U.S. 481, 494 (2022). Under that provision, district courts may only impose special conditions of supervised release that are "reasonably related" to the sentencing factors set out in 18 U.S.C. 3553 and "involve[] no greater deprivation of liberty than is necessary" for those purposes. 18 U.S.C. § 3583.

Generally, appellate courts agree that this statutory mandate requires district courts to justify the imposition of special conditions of supervised release with factual findings on the record. But under what circumstances may a court impose a special condition without explanation, and when is a district court's failure to adequately justify a special condition harmless? Because there is a divide among the circuit courts on this question, the Court should grant certiorari and resolve the issue.

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a district court can impose a special condition of supervised release without explanation and when such failure to justify the condition is considered harmless

Docket Entries

2026-01-15
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
2026-01-12
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-11-26
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due January 21, 2026)

Attorneys

Omar Anthony Quintero-Arias
Jeremy DangFederal Defenders of San Diego, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent