2015 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Clarence Thomas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 2015 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 5, 2015, and concluded October 2, 2016. This was the twenty-fifth term of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas's tenure on the Court. Clarence Thomas official SCOTUS portrait.jpg
Clarence Thomas 2015 term statistics
7
Majority or Plurality
16
Concurrence
0
Other
25
Dissent
1
Concurrence/dissent Total = 49
Bench opinions = 39 Opinions relating to orders = 10 In-chambers opinions = 0
Unanimous opinions: 2 Most joined by: Alito (13 in full, 1 in part) Least joined by: Scalia, Ginsburg (4)[1]
Type Case Citation Issues Joined by Other opinions
401



New Hampshire Right to Life v. Department of Health and Human Services 577 U.S. ___ (2015)

Freedom of Information Act Scalia
Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.
402



Friedman v. Highland Park 577 U.S. ___ (2015)

Second Amendment  • right to keep and bear arms  • municipal ban on semiautomatic firearms and high-capacity magazines Scalia
Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.
403



DIRECTV, Inc. v. Imburgia 577 U.S. ___ (2015)

Federal Arbitration Act
Transparent.gif
Breyer
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
104



Montanile v. Board of Trustees of Nat. Elevator Industry Health Benefit Plan 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974  • equitable remedies for plan enforcement Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan; Alito (in part)
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
205



Campbell-Ewald v. Gomez 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

Article III  • Case or Controversy Clause  • effect of unaccepted settlement offer or offer of judgment on mootness  • Telephone Consumer Protection Act  • liability of federal contractor
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
Transparent.gif
Roberts
Transparent.gif
Alito
406



Montgomery v. Louisiana 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

Eighth Amendment  • mandatory life imprisonment of minors  • retroactivity of new constitutional rules
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Scalia
107



Musacchio v. United States 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

challenge to sufficiency of evidence based on incorrect jury instructions  • waiver of statute of limitations Unanimous
208



California Building Industry Assn. v. San Jose 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

ordinance requiring new developments include low income housing  • Fifth Amendment  • Takings Clause
Thomas concurred in the Court's denial of certiorari.
209



Gobeille v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974  • preemption of state law health care disclosure requirements
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Breyer
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
410



American Freedom Defense Initiative v. King County 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

First Amendment  • free speech  • public forum doctrine  • advertising in public transit areas Alito
Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.
411



577 U.S. ___ (2016)

discretion to decline original jurisdiction suits  • Colorado Amendment 64 Alito
Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of leave to file complaint.
412



Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938  • certification of class action  • compensibility for varying times spent donning and doffing protective gear Alito
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Roberts
113



Nebraska v. Parker 577 U.S. ___ (2016)

Omaha Indian Reservation  • diminishment of reservation boundaries Unanimous[2]
214



Luis v. United States 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

pretrial asset freezing  • Sixth Amendment  • right to counsel of one's choice
Transparent.gif
Breyer
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Kagan
215



Evenwel v. Abbott 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

legislative redistricting based on total state population  • Fourteenth Amendment  • Equal Protection Clause  • one person, one vote doctrine
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
Transparent.gif
Alito
416



Kakarala v. Wells Fargo Bank, N. A. 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

federal court review of orders remanding cases to state court
Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.
417



Welch v. United States 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Armed Career Criminal Act  • retroactive effect of court decision on collateral review
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
218



578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Federal Power Act  • interstate wholesale electricity rates  • federal preemption
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
419



Arrigoni Enterprises, LLC. v. Durham 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fifth Amendment  • Takings Clause  • exhaustion of remedies under state procedures Kennedy
Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.
420



Heffernan v. City of Paterson 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

First Amendment  • free speech by government employees  • demotion based on employer's factual mistake regarding engagement in protected activity Alito
Transparent.gif
Breyer
421



Ocasio v. United States 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Hobbs Act  • conspiracy
Transparent.gif
Alito
Transparent.gif
Breyer
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
222



Spokeo, Inc. v. Robins 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

 • Article III  • injury-in-fact
Transparent.gif
Alito
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
423



578 U.S. ___ (2016)

bankruptcy law  • Chapter 7  • discharge exception for actual fraud
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
224



Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. v. Manning 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Securities Exchange Act of 1934  • removal jurisdiction  • federal question jurisdiction Sotomayor
Transparent.gif
Kagan
425



United Student Aid Funds, Inc. v. Bible 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

administrative law  • deference to agency interpretation
Thomas dissented from the denial of certiorari.
226



CRST Van Expedited, Inc. v. EEOC 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Title VII  • award of attorney's fees to
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
227



Betterman v. Montana 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Sixth Amendment  • Speedy Trial Clause  • postconviction delay in sentencing Alito
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
428



Foster v. Chatman 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fourteenth Amendment  • Equal Protection Clause  • racial discrimination in juror peremptory challenges  • adequate and independent state ground
Transparent.gif
Roberts
Transparent.gif
Alito
429



Green v. Brennan 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Title VII  • constructive discharge  • statute of limitations
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
Transparent.gif
Alito
230



Adams v. Alabama 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Eighth Amendment  • mandatory life imprisonment of minors  • retroactivity of new constitutional rules Alito
Transparent.gif
Alito
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
Thomas concurred in the Court's decision to grant certiorari, vacate the lower court's opinion, and remand.
431



Lynch v. Arizona 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fourteenth Amendment  • Due Process Clause  • death penalty  • right to inform jury at sentencing of parole ineligibility Alito
Transparent.gif
per curiam
232



Ross v. Blake 578 U.S. ___ (2016)

Prison Litigation Reform Act of 1995  • exhaustion of remedies
Transparent.gif
Kagan
Transparent.gif
Breyer
433



Williams v. Pennsylvania 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fourteenth Amendment  • Due Process Clause  • judicial recusal due to prior involvement as prosecutor
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Roberts
434



Dietz v. Bouldin 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

district court recall of jury in civil case after discharge Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
235



Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Double Jeopardy Clause  • sovereignty of Puerto Rico
Transparent.gif
Kagan
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
Transparent.gif
Breyer
136



579 U.S. ___ (2016)

bankruptcy law  • preemption of municipal bankruptcy laws  • Puerto Rican government-debt crisis Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Kagan
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
237



579 U.S. ___ (2016)

federal crime of domestic violence in Indian lands  • tribal court conviction as predicate offense  • Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968  • Sixth Amendment  • Assistance of Counsel Clause  • Fifth Amendment  • Due Process Clause
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
138



Kingdomware Technologies, Inc. v. United States 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

 • Department of Defense contracting with veteran-owned small businesses Unanimous[2]
139



Universal Health Services, Inc. v. United States ex rel. Escobar 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

False Claims Act  • implied false certification theory  • failure to disclose noncompliance with legal requirements Unanimous[2]
440



Encino Motorcars, LLC v. Navarro 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fair Labor Standards Act  • overtime exemption for automobile service advisors Alito
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
141



Utah v. Strieff 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fourth Amendment  • exclusionary rule  • Roberts, Kennedy, Breyer, Alito
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
Transparent.gif
Kagan
242



579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Leahy-Smith America Invents Act  • appealability of decision to conduct inter partes review
Transparent.gif
Breyer
Transparent.gif
Alito
443



Taylor v. United States 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Hobbs Act  • robbery of drug dealers as satisfaction of commerce requirement
Transparent.gif
Alito
444



Fisher v. University of Tex. at Austin 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fourteenth Amendment  • Equal Protection Clause  • affirmative action  • race-conscious college admissions program
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Alito
345



Birchfield v. North Dakota 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fourth Amendment  • search incident to arrest  • drunk driving  • implied consent to breathalyzer or blood alcohol content tests
Transparent.gif
Alito
Transparent.gif
Sotomayor
246



579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Armed Career Criminal Act  • sentence enhancement for prior convictions
Transparent.gif
Kagan
Transparent.gif
Kennedy
Transparent.gif
Breyer
Transparent.gif
Alito
447



Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

Fourteenth Amendment  • abortion  • regulation of abortion providers  • Texas Senate Bill 5  • res judicata
Transparent.gif
Breyer
Transparent.gif
Ginsburg
Transparent.gif
Alito
448



Voisine v. United States 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

federal criminal law  • prohibition on firearm ownership for misdemeanor domestic violence conviction  • Second Amendment Sotomayor (in part)
Transparent.gif
Kagan
449



Delaware Strong Families v. Denn 579 U.S. ___ (2016)

First Amendment  • campaign finance reform  • mandated disclosure of anonymous donors
Thomas dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari.

Notes

  1. ^ All but eight of Thomas's opinions were issued after Justice Scalia's death.
  2. ^ a b c This opinion was handed down after the death of Justice Scalia, and so was unanimous as to the eight justices remaining on the Court.

References

  • "2015 Term Opinions of the Court". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  • "2015 Term Opinions Relating to Orders". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  • "2015 Term In-Chambers Opinions". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved June 29, 2016.


Retrieved from ""