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No. 18-7739October Term 2019Decided Feb 26, 2020

Docket 18-7739October Term 2019 (2019–2020)

Holguin-Hernandez v. United States

This case asked whether a criminal defendant preserves a challenge to an allegedly too-long sentence simply by arguing for a shorter sentence in the trial court, or whether he must also formally object after the sentence is announced.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Feb 26, 2020
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedFeb 26, 2020
What it's about

This case asked whether a criminal defendant preserves a challenge to an allegedly too-long sentence simply by arguing for a shorter sentence in the trial court, or whether he must also formally object after the sentence is announced. The Supreme Court held that arguing for a shorter sentence is enough to preserve appellate review of the sentence’s substantive reasonableness.

Question presented

Whether a formal objection after pronouncement of sentence is necessary to invoke appellate reasonableness review of the length of a defendant's sentence.

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Feb 26, 2020

Area

Decided Supreme Court case

Timing

Decided February 26, 2020

The Court released its decision on February 26, 2020 without hearing oral argument.