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No. 23-1002October Term 2024Decided Jun 26, 2025

Docket 23-1002October Term 2024 (2024–2025)

Tony R. Hewitt, Petitioner v. United States

The Supreme Court ruled that the First Step Act's reduced sentencing penalties apply to defendants whose original sentences were imposed before the Act's enactment but were later vacated and required resentencing after the Act took effect.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 26, 2025
Case AcceptedJul 2, 2024
Arguments HeardJan 13, 2025
Decision ReleasedJun 26, 2025
What it's about

The Supreme Court ruled that the First Step Act's reduced sentencing penalties apply to defendants whose original sentences were imposed before the Act's enactment but were later vacated and required resentencing after the Act took effect. The Court determined that a vacated sentence is not considered to have been "imposed" for the purposes of the statute, allowing these defendants to benefit from the newer, more lenient laws.

Question presented

Does the First Step Act’s sentencing reduction provision apply to a defendant whose original sentence was imposed before the Act’s enactment, but was later vacated and resentenced after the Act took effect?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit / Decision released Jun 26, 2025

Area

Criminal Procedure