Case Info: Williams v. Washington | Case No. 23-191 | Date Argued: 10/7/24 | Date Decided: 2/21/25

Link to Docket: Here.

Question Presented: Whether exhaustion of state administrative remedies is required to bring claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in state court.

Holding: Where a state court’s application of a state exhaustion require­ment in effect immunizes state officials from §1983 claims challenging delays in the administrative process, state courts may not deny those §1983 claims on failure-to-exhaust grounds.

Result: Reversed and remanded.

Voting Result: Justice Kavanaugh delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson joined. Justice Thomas filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Alito, Gorsuch and Barrett joined as to Part II.

Link to Opinion: Here.

Oral Advocates:

• For petitioners: Adam G. Unikowsky, Washington, D. C.
• For respondent: Edmund G. LaCour, Jr., Solicitor General, Montgomery, Ala.

Website Link to Opinion Summary: Here.

Apple Podcast Link to Opinion Summary: Here.

The question presented in this case is: Whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.

The Supreme Court held: Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts. There is no immunity for unofficial acts.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction

00:14 Question Presented

00:30 Voting Breakdown

01:10 Chief Justice Roberts Majority Opinion

02:08 Holding

21:32 Justice Thomas Concurring Opinion

23:48 Justice Barrett Opinion Concurring in Part

28:59 Justice Sotomayor Dissenting Opinion

38:40 Justice Jackson Dissenting Opinion

The Question Presented is: Whether and if so to what extent does a former President enjoy Presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office.

Argued:

For Petitioner: D. John Sauer; For Respondent: Michael R. Dreeben, Counselor to the Special Counsel, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction

00:05 Petitioner Opening Statement Begins

1:58 Petitioner Free for All Questions Begin

27:18 Petitioner Sequential Questions Begin

57:34 Petitioner Questions End, Respondent Opening Statement Begins

59:27 Respondent Free for All Questions Begin

128:11 Respondent Sequential Questions Begin

2:39:15 Respondent Questions End, Rebuttal (D. John Sauer said he had nothing further)

Case Info: Fischer v. United States | Case No. 23-5572 | Date Argued: March 25, 2024 | Date Decided: 6/28/24

Link to Docket: Here.

Question Presented: Did the D.C. Circuit err in construing 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) (“Witness, Victim, or Informant Tampering"). Which prohibits obstruction of congressional inquiries and investigations to include acts unrelated to investigations and evidence?

Holding: To prove a violation of §1512(c)(2), the Government must establish that the defendant impaired the availability or integrity for use in an official proceeding of records, documents, objects, or other things used in an official proceeding, or attempted to do so.

Result: Vacated and remanded.

Voting Breakdown: 6-3. Chief Justice Roberts delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Jackson joined.  Justice Jackson filed a concurring opinion. Justice Barrett filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justices Sotomayor and Kagan joined.

Link to Opinion: Here.

Oral Advocates:

• For Petitioner: Jeffrey T. Green, Bethesda, Md.
• For Respondent: Elizabeth B. Prelogar, Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.

Timestamps:

[00:00:00] Introduction

[00:00:07] Petitioner Opening Statement Begins

[00:01:52] Petitioner Free for All Questions Begin

[00:25:37] Petitioner Sequential Questions Begin

[00:34:25] Petitioner Questions End, Respondent Opening Statement Begins

[00:36:31] Respondent Free for All Questions Begin

[01:05:01] Respondent Sequential Questions Begin

[01:36:13] Respondent Sequential Questions End, Petitioner Rebuttal Begins