No. 20-1267

Ronald E. Byers v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2021-03-12
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response Waived
Tags: certiorari certiorari-writ circuit-split decision-finality finality fraud-exception fraud-on-the-court jurisdictional-statute post-decision-motions post-decision-relief tax-court
Key Terms:
SocialSecurity Securities Immigration
Latest Conference: 2021-04-30
Question Presented (from Petition)

When the Supreme Court of the United States denies a taxpayer a certiorari writ in a case begun in the United States Tax Court, 26 U.S.C. § 7481(a)(2)(B) provides that the Tax Court's decision "shall become final."

The first question presented is:

1. Is U.S.C. § 7481(a)(2)(B), which applies the Supreme Court of the United States' power to deny a taxpayer a certiorari writ to achieve United States Tax Court decision finality, jurisdictional?

The United States Tax Court has held that 26 U.S.C. § 7481 authorizes a "fraud on the court" exception to the finality of its decisions. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals has not decided whether to recognize that statutory exception. Other Circuit courts recognize it.

The second question presented is:

2. Must a party who moves the United States Tax Court for post-decision relief —while its decision is on review before this Court — satisfy the "fraud on the court" exception to U.S.C. § 7481(a)(2)(B) decision finality?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Is U.S.C. § 7481(a)(2)(B) jurisdictional?

Docket Entries

2021-08-02
Rehearing DENIED. Justice Kavanaugh took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
2021-07-08
DISTRIBUTED.
2021-05-28
2021-05-03
Petition DENIED. Justice Kavanaugh took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
2021-04-14
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 4/30/2021.
2021-04-09
Waiver of right of respondent CIR to respond filed.
2020-12-26
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due April 12, 2021)

Attorneys

CIR
Elizabeth B. PrelogarActing Solicitor General, Respondent
Ronald Byers
Ronald E. Byers — Petitioner