No. 25-7146October Term 2025Petition Pending
James Perrin, Petitioner v. United States
James Perrin asks the Supreme Court to review a Third Circuit decision involving the federal wiretap statute, Title III.
Case status
- Current stage
- Petition Pending
- Latest event
- Petition pending
- Decision timing
- No decision timeline until the Court agrees to hear the case.
- What it's about
James Perrin asks the Supreme Court to review a Third Circuit decision involving the federal wiretap statute, Title III. He argues that the wiretap evidence in his case was improperly authorized because Title III limits who in the Justice Department may approve an application for a wiretap order.
Question presented
Whether the “principal prosecuting attorney of any State, or the principal prosecuting attorney of any political subdivision thereof,” 18 U.S.C. § 2516(2), may delegate responsibility for determining that a wiretap will abide constitutional and statutory limitations and is warranted in the interest of sound law enforcement?
- Case path
United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit / Petition pending
- Area
Petition for review pending
Briefing
What it's about
James Perrin asks the Supreme Court to review a Third Circuit case about who may authorize an application for a wiretap under the federal wiretap law, Title III. He argues the wiretap evidence in his case was improperly authorized.
Argument
The case has not been scheduled for oral argument. Perrin argues that Title III limits wiretap authorization to specified high-ranking Justice Department officials.
Impact
The case could clarify whether senior prosecutors may delegate wiretap-approval duties. That affects defendants challenging intercepted calls and law-enforcement agencies seeking wiretap orders.
What is at stake in Perrin v. United States?
The dispute concerns whether a senior prosecutor may delegate responsibility for deciding that a wiretap application meets Title III's requirements.
Who could be affected by the wiretap authorization question?
Defendants challenging intercepted communications and law-enforcement agencies seeking wiretap orders could be affected by the Court's answer.
What happens next in Perrin v. United States?
The next event could be oral-argument scheduling or another Court scheduling action. No decision window has been set.
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology