No. 18-1059October Term 2019Decided May 7, 2020
Kelly v. United States
This case arose from the New Jersey “Bridgegate” scandal, in which state officials changed traffic lanes on the George Washington Bridge to punish the mayor of Fort Lee for refusing to endorse Governor Christie.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released May 7, 2020
- What it's about
This case arose from the New Jersey “Bridgegate” scandal, in which state officials changed traffic lanes on the George Washington Bridge to punish the mayor of Fort Lee for refusing to endorse Governor Christie. The Supreme Court held that, although the scheme was abusive and deceptive, it did not violate the federal wire fraud or federal-program fraud laws because it was not aimed at taking the Port Authority’s money or property.
Question presented
Does a public official "defraud" the government of its property by advancing a "public policy reason" for an official decision that is not her subjective "real reason" for making the decision?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit / Decision released May 7, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided May 7, 2020
The Court released its decision on May 7, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
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Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology