Mathis v. United States

Mathis v. United States, 579 U.S. ___ (2016), was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that if a state law defines a crime more broadly than the common understanding of that crime, a conviction under that state law cannot be used as a sentencing enhancement under the federal Armed Career Criminal Act.[1][2]

Mathis v. United States
Decided June 23, 2016
Full case nameMathis v. United States
Docket no.15-6092
Citations579 U.S. ___ (more)
Holding
If a state law defines a crime more broadly than the common understanding of that crime, a conviction under that state law cannot be used as a sentencing enhancement under the federal Armed Career Criminal Act.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John Roberts
Associate Justices
Anthony Kennedy · Clarence Thomas
Ruth Bader Ginsburg · Stephen Breyer
Samuel Alito · Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan
Case opinions
MajorityKagan
ConcurrenceKennedy
ConcurrenceThomas
DissentBreyer, joined by Ginsberg
DissentAlito
Laws applied
Armed Career Criminal Act

Description

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The conviction at issue was under Iowa's burglary law, which criminalized unlawful entry into "any building, structure, [or] land, water, or air vehicle." To the Court, the common understanding of "burglary" was unlawful entry into a "building or other structure."[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Mathis v. United States, No. 15-6092, 579 U.S. ___ (2016)
  2. ^ "Opinion analysis: Victory for the "categorical approach" in immigration and federal criminal sentencing – but for how long?". SCOTUSblog. 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2024-10-27.
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  • Text of Mathis v. United States, No. 15-6092, 579 U.S. ___ (2016) is available from: Justia