No. 25-6451

Thomas Steven Sanders v. United States

Lower Court: Fifth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-12-30
Status: Pending
Type: IFP
Response RequestedResponse WaivedIFP
Tags: appellate-review case-or-controversy commutation death-penalty federal-sentencing mootness
Key Terms:
Punishment JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2026-02-20
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Following commutation of a death sentence to life in prison without the possibility of release, does a case or controversy regarding the death penalty persist, so that courts retain the power to decide capital appellate issues. Or are those issues moot, since the death sentence is no longer in effect.

Docket Entries

2026-01-26
Response Requested. (Due February 25, 2026)
2026-01-15
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026.
2026-01-12
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-12-22
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due January 29, 2026)
2025-10-20
Application (25A445) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until December 26, 2025.
2025-10-14
Application (25A445) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from October 27, 2025 to December 26, 2025, submitted to Justice Alito.

Attorneys

Thomas Sanders
Sarah Sargent GannettFederal Public Defender for the District of Arizon, Petitioner
Sarah Sargent GannettFederal Public Defender District of Arizona, Petitioner
Sarah Sargent GannettFederal Public Defender District of Arizona, Petitioner
United States
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent
D. John SauerSolicitor General, Respondent