Crack cocaine sentencing rules
Dorsey v. United States
In brief
The Supreme Court wiped out the Seventh Circuit’s judgment in Dorsey’s case and sent it back to that court.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 5-4 · June 21, 2012 · Opinion by Justice Breyer
- What it’s about
- Edward Dorsey challenged the Seventh Circuit’s ruling that the Fair Sentencing Act did not cover all defendants sentenced after it took effect, even if their crimes came earlier.
- Who it affects
- Dorsey’s case returns to the Seventh Circuit, and the judgment he challenged no longer stands.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court wiped out the Seventh Circuit’s judgment and sent the case back to that court (vacated and remanded).
The dispute concerns whether the Fair Sentencing Act’s lower minimum sentences apply to people sentenced after its passage for crimes committed before it.
Question presented
Is the FSA applicable when the criminal was sentenced after the FSA passed but the crime occurred prior to passage?
What the Court decided
Holding
Judgment vacated and case remanded. Breyer, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Scalia, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Roberts, C. J., and Thomas and Alito, JJ., joined. VIDED
- Result
- Vacated
The vote
What's next
The Seventh Circuit will take up Dorsey’s case again.
Documents
Opinions
Audio
Docket activity
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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
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
Audio Recording added: Oral Arguments - Dorsey
Opinion added: Dorsey
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.