| No. 25-417 |
|
| Title: |
Francis Nielsen, Petitioner v. Kekai Watanabe |
| Docketed: | October 7, 2025 |
| Linked with: | 25A208 |
| Lower Ct: | United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit |
| Case Numbers: | (23-15605) |
| Decision Date: | September 6, 2024 |
| Rehearing Denied: | June 5, 2025 |
| Questions Presented | |
| Aug 19 2025 | Application (25A208) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from September 3, 2025 to October 3, 2025, submitted to Justice Kagan. Main Document Lower Court Orders/Opinions Proof of Service |
| Aug 21 2025 | Application (25A208) granted by Justice Kagan extending the time to file until October 3, 2025. |
| Oct 03 2025 | Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due November 6, 2025) Petition Appendix Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Oct 29 2025 | Motion to extend the time to file a response from November 6, 2025 to January 5, 2026, submitted to The Clerk. Main Document |
| Oct 31 2025 | Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including January 5, 2026. |
| Jan 05 2026 | Brief of respondent Kekai Watanabe in opposition filed. Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count |
| Jan 20 2026 | Reply of petitioner Francis Nielsen filed. (Distributed) Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count |
| Jan 21 2026 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/20/2026. |
| Feb 13 2026 | Supplemental brief of petitioner Francis Nielsen filed. (Distributed) Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count |
| Feb 17 2026 | Supplemental brief of respondent Kekai Watanabe filed. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Feb 19 2026 | Rescheduled. |
| Feb 23 2026 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/27/2026. |
| Feb 24 2026 | Rescheduled. |
| May 05 2026 | Supplemental brief of petitioner Francis Nielsen filed. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| May 15 2026 | Supplemental brief of respondent Kekai Watanabe filed. Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count |
| May 26 2026 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/11/2026. |
| Jun 15 2026 | DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 6/18/2026. |
| Jun 22 2026 | Petition GRANTED. |
| Jul 27 2026 | Motion for an extension of time to file the briefs on the merits filed. Main Document |
| Jul 28 2026 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Francis Nielsen. Main Document Proof of Service |
| Jul 29 2026 | Motion to extend the time to file the briefs on the merits granted. The time to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits is extended to and including August 14, 2026. The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including September 23, 2026. |
| Aug 11 2026 | SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, November 9, 2026. |
| Aug 14 2026 | Brief of petitioner Francis Nielsen filed. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Aug 21 2026 | Brief amicus curiae of United States filed. Main Document Proof of Service |
| Aug 21 2026 | Brief amicus curiae of Elaine Mittleman filed. Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count |
| Aug 21 2026 | Brief amici curiae of Missouri, et al. filed. Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count |
| Aug 25 2026 | Record requested from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. |
| Aug 25 2026 | Record received from the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The record is electronic and is available on PACER. |
| Aug 27 2026 | CIRCULATED |
| Aug 31 2026 | Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed. Main Document Proof of Service |
| Sep 04 2026 | Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED. |
| Sep 23 2026 | Brief of respondent Kekai Watanabe filed. (Distributed) Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Cato Institute submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Constitutional Accountability Center submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Professor Stephen I. Vladeck submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Institute for Justice submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center and Prison Policy Initiative submitted. Main Document Proof of Service Certificate of Word Count Other |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia, and American Civil Liberties Union of Hawaiʻi Foundation submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Professors James E. Pfander and Alexander A. Reinert submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Dee Deidre Farmer, National Trans Bar Association, and Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Medical Justice Alliance, Medical Justice Alliance-Massachusetts, Georgia Human Rights Clinic, Chicago Medical Legal Collaborative, and Stop Criminalization of Our Patients submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |
| Sep 30 2026 | Amicus brief of Neutral Principles; Project for Privacy & Surveillance Accountability, Inc. submitted. Main Document Certificate of Word Count Proof of Service |