Shackling before trial
United States v. Sanchez-Gomez
In brief
The Supreme Court unanimously wiped out the Ninth Circuit’s judgment and sent the case back to that court.
- Where it stands
- Decided
Decided 9-0 · May 14, 2018 · Opinion by Chief Justice Roberts
- What it’s about
- Rene Sanchez-Gomez and other criminal defendants challenged a federal district court policy generally requiring in-custody defendants to appear in full physical restraints at pretrial, nonjury proceedings.
- Who it affects
- The Ninth Circuit’s judgment no longer stands.
Summary: written with AI from the case record.
What it's about
The Supreme Court wiped out the appeals court’s judgment and sent the case back to the lower court (vacated and remanded).
Rene Sanchez-Gomez and other criminal defendants challenged a federal district court policy generally requiring people held in custody to appear in full physical restraints at pretrial, nonjury proceedings.
The challenge reached the Ninth Circuit before the criminal cases were finished, as an early appeal about pretrial procedure.
Question presented
Whether the court of appeals erred in asserting authority to review respondents' interlocutory challenge to pretrial physical restraints and in ruling on that challenge notwithstanding its recognition that respondents' individual claims were moot?
What the Court decided
Holding
Judgment VACATED and case REMANDED. Roberts, C. J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
- Result
- Vacated
The vote
What's next
The case returns to the Ninth Circuit for further proceedings.
Documents
Docket activity
New analysis added
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
AI analysis generated: Decision Record
Case data updated: summary, question_presented, generation_metadata
Case data updated: question_presented, extraction_metadata
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Opinion added: opinion
Brief added: Questions Presented
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.