Carol Anne Bond v. United States
In brief
Bond may challenge the federal law, but the Court did not decide whether it violates the Constitution.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided · June 16, 2011 · Opinion by Justice Kennedy
- What it’s about
- After Carol Anne Bond was convicted under a federal chemical-weapons law, she argued that Congress had no power to apply it because it interfered with powers reserved to the states.
- Who it affects
- Bond can pursue her challenge to Congress’s power to apply the law; the Court did not decide whether that challenge succeeds.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled she could bring that challenge, overturned the appeals court’s ruling, and sent the case back (remanded); it did not decide whether the law was unconstitutional.
The case asked whether someone convicted under federal law could challenge Congress’s power based on limits reserved to the states.
Question presented
Does a criminal defendant, who has been convicted under a federal statute, have standing to challenge the conviction on grounds that the statute is beyond the federal government's enumerated powers and inconsistent with the Tenth Amendment?
What the Court decided
Holding
Bond has standing to challenge the federal statute on grounds that the measure interferes with the powers reserved to States. 581 F. 3d 128, reversed and remanded.
- Result
- Reversed
The vote
- Majority author
- Anthony M. Kennedy
What's next
The case returns to the Third Circuit for further proceedings on Bond’s challenge. The Supreme Court left the law’s constitutionality unresolved.
Documents
Opinions
Audio
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Impact Analysis
AI analysis generated: Opinion Summary
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AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
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Audio Recording added: Oral Arguments - Bond
Opinion added: Bond
More questions
- Did the Supreme Court overturn Bond’s conviction?
- No. It overturned the Third Circuit’s ruling about whether she could challenge the law, not her conviction.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.