No. 20-927October Term 2020Decided Jan 15, 2021Updated May 23, 2026
United States v. Higgs
This case concerned federal death-row inmate Dustin Higgs, who was sentenced to death in Maryland for the kidnapping and murders of three women on federal land.
Case status
Decided · January 15, 2021
Read the opinion (PDF)- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Jan 15, 2021
- What it's about
This case concerned federal death-row inmate Dustin Higgs, who was sentenced to death in Maryland for the kidnapping and murders of three women on federal land. The dispute was whether, after Maryland abolished the death penalty, federal law allowed the court to designate another state, Indiana, to carry out his execution.
Question presented
Whether, after Maryland abolished the death penalty, federal law allowed the court to designate another state, Indiana, to carry out his execution?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit / Decision released Jan 15, 2021
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Timing
Decided January 15, 2021
The Court released its decision on January 15, 2021 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity4
Brief added: Questions Presented
May 23, 2026 | Court records
Opinion added: Opinion
Jan 15, 2021 | Court records
Court Order added: Lower Court Orders/Opinions
Jan 14, 2021 | Court records
Brief added: Petition
Jan 11, 2021 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Jul 25, 2026
- Method
- Methodology