No. 24-6395

Robert Lewis Dear, Jr. v. United States

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2025-01-27
Status: Denied
Type: IFP
Response WaivedIFP
Tags: circuit-split competency-restoration criminal-procedure due-process forcible-medication sell-standard
Latest Conference: 2025-02-21
Question Presented (from Petition)

When ordering that a criminal defendant be forcibly medicated to restore competence under Sell v. United States, 539 U.S. 166 (2003), must a district court specifically contend with substantial evidence that would undermine the case for forcible medication, as the Fourth Circuit requires in United States v. Watson, 793 F.3d 416 (4th Cir. 2015), or can a court order forcible medication without even addressing such evidence, as the Tenth Circuit permitted below?

Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether a district court must specifically address substantial evidence undermining the case for forcible medication of a criminal defendant to restore competence under Sell v. United States

Docket Entries

2025-02-24
Petition DENIED.
2025-02-06
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/21/2025.
2025-01-31
Waiver of United States of right to respond submitted.
2025-01-31
Waiver of right of respondent United States to respond filed.
2025-01-21
Petition for a writ of certiorari and motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis filed. (Response due February 26, 2025)
2024-12-11
Application (24A572) granted by Justice Gorsuch extending the time to file until January 21, 2025.
2024-12-09
Application (24A572) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 19, 2024 to January 21, 2025, submitted to Justice Gorsuch.

Attorneys

Robert Dear
Jacob Rasch-ChabotOffice of the Federal Public Defender, Petitioner
United States
Sarah M. HarrisActing Solicitor General, Respondent