Holding: The trial court at Curtis Flowers’ sixth murder trial committed clear error in concluding that the state’s peremptory strike of a particular black prospective juror was not motivated in substantial part by discriminatory intent.
Judgment: Reversed and remanded, 7-2, in an opinion by Justice Kavanaugh on June 21, 2019. Justice Alito filed a concurring opinion. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Gorsuch joined as to Parts I, II, and III.
| Date | Proceedings and Orders |
|---|---|
| Apr 30 2018 | Application (17A1205) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 23, 2018 to July 7, 2018, submitted to Justice Alito. |
| May 02 2018 | Application (17A1205) granted by Justice Alito extending the time to file until June 22, 2018. |
| Jun 22 2018 | Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due July 26, 2018) |
| Jul 17 2018 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 26, 2018 to August 27, 2018, submitted to The Clerk. |
| Jul 20 2018 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including August 27, 2018. |
| Jul 26 2018 | Brief amici curiae of Magnolia Bar Association, Mississippi Center for Justice, and Innocence Project New Orleans filed. |
| Aug 20 2018 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from August 27, 2018 to September 26, 2018, submitted to The Clerk. |
| Aug 23 2018 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including September 26, 2018. |
| Sep 27 2018 | Brief of respondent Mississippi in opposition filed. |
| Oct 09 2018 | Reply of petitioner Curtis Flowers filed. (Distributed) |
| Oct 11 2018 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 10/26/2018. |
| Oct 29 2018 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/2/2018. |
| Nov 02 2018 | Motion to proceed in forma pauperis and petition for a writ of certiorari GRANTED limited to the following question: Whether the Mississippi Supreme Court erred in how it applied Batson v. Kentucky, 476 U. S. 79 (1986), in this case. |
| Nov 20 2018 | Motion for an extension of time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits filed. |
| Nov 27 2018 | Motion to extend the time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits granted and the time is extended to and including December 27, 2018. |
| Dec 27 2018 | Brief amicus curiae of NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. filed. |
| Dec 27 2018 | Joint appendix filed (2 Volumes). (Statement of costs filed) |
| Dec 27 2018 | Brief of petitioner Curtis Flowers filed. |
| Jan 03 2019 | Brief amici curiae of Former Justice Department Officials filed. |
| Jan 08 2019 | Motion of respondent for an extension of time filed. |
| Jan 15 2019 | Motion to extend the time to file respondent's brief on the merits is granted to and including February 7, 2019. |
| Jan 25 2019 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 |
| Feb 07 2019 | Brief of respondent State of Mississippi filed. |
| Feb 14 2019 | CIRCULATED |
| Feb 26 2019 | Record received from the Supreme Court of Mississippi is electronic and complete. |
| Mar 07 2019 | Reply of petitioner Curtis Flowers filed. (Distributed) |
| Mar 20 2019 | Argued. For petitioner: Sheri Lynn Johnson, Ithaca, N. Y. For respondent: Jason Davis, Special Assistant Attorney General, Jackson, Miss. |
| Jun 21 2019 | Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Kavanaugh, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Alito, J., filed a concurring opinion. Thomas, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Gorsuch, J., joined as to Parts I, II, and III. |
| Jul 23 2019 | MANDATE ISSUED. |
| Jul 23 2019 | JUDGMENT ISSUED. |
| Nov 06 2019 | MANDATE ISSUED. |