2012 term United States Supreme Court opinions of Sonia Sotomayor

The 2012 term of the Supreme Court of the United States began October 1, 2012, and concluded October 6, 2013. This was the fourth term of Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor's tenure on the Court.
Sonia Sotomayor 2012 term statistics
8
Majority or Plurality
3
Concurrence
3
Other
7
Dissent
0
Concurrence/dissent Total = 21
Bench opinions = 17 Opinions relating to orders = 3 In-chambers opinions = 1
Unanimous opinions: 2 Most joined by: Ginsburg (13) Least joined by: Thomas (2 in full, 1 in part)
Type Case Citation Issues Joined by Other opinions
401



Lozman v. City of Riviera Beach 568 U.S. 115, 134-44 (2013)

admiralty jurisdiction  • status of floating house as "vessel" under Rules of Construction Act Kennedy
Breyer
202



Sebelius v. Auburn Regional Medical Center 568 U.S. 145, 161-64 (2013)

low income patient adjustment to health care provider Medicare reimbursement  • Provider Reimbursement Review Board  • statute of limitations for appealing administrative decision  • equitable tolling
Ginsburg
103



FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc. 568 U.S. 216, 219-36 (2013)

antitrust law  • state-action immunity defense Unanimous
104



Evans v. Michigan 568 U.S. 313, 315-30 (2013)

Fifth Amendment  • Double Jeopardy Clause  • legal error in court-directed acquittal
Alito
405



Chaidez v. United States 568 U.S. 342, 359-70 (2012)

ineffective assistance of counsel  • retroactivity of new rules of criminal procedure Ginsburg
Kagan
Thomas
406



Marx v. General Revenue Corp. 568 U.S. 371, 388-97 (2012)

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act  • Federal Rules of Civil Procedure  • award of costs to prevailing plaintiff Kagan
Thomas
507



Haynes v. Thaler • [full text] 568 U.S. 970, 971 (2012)

ineffective assistance of counsel  • procedural default Ginsburg
Scalia
Sotomayor filed a statement respecting the Court's granting of a stay of execution.
408



Hodge v. Kentucky • [full text] 568 U.S. 1056, 1056-63 (2012)

death penalty  • ineffective assistance of counsel  • mitigating factors
Sotomayor dissented from the Court's denial of certiorari in a death penalty case. The defendant's attorney had failed to investigate or present any mitigating factors at sentencing, despite the defendant's history of severe physical and emotional abuse as a child. The state supreme court decided that failure to present this mitigation evidence was not prejudicial because it would not have "explained" the defendant's violent murder, which Sotomayor wrote was the wrong standard.
509



Calhoun v. United States 568 U.S. 1206, 1206-09 (2012)

racist remarks by prosecutor  • forfeiture on appeal Breyer
Sotomayor filed a statement respecting the Court's denial of certiorari.
510



Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. v. Sebelius • [full text] 568 U.S. 1401, 1401-04 (2012)

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act  • contraceptive mandate  • Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Sotomayor denied an application for an injunction pending appellate review.
111



Missouri v. McNeely 569 U.S. 141, 144-65 (2013)

Fourth Amendment  • exigent circumstances  • drunk driving  • government-compelled blood alcohol test Scalia, Ginsburg, Kagan; Kennedy (in part)
Kennedy
Roberts
Thomas
112



Moncrieffe v. Holder 569 U.S. 184, 187-207 (2013)

Immigration and Nationality Act  • ineligibility for discretionary relief due to aggravated felony Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan
Thomas
Alito
413



Boyer v. Louisiana 569 U.S. 238, 241-50 (2013)

Speedy Trial Clause  • indigent right to counsel Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan
per curiam
Alito
Sotomayor dissented from the Court's dismissal of certiorari as improvidently granted.
214



PPL Corp. v. Commissioner 569 U.S. 329, 344-50 (2013)

UK Windfall Tax  • foreign tax credit
Thomas
115



Sebelius v. Cloer 569 U.S. 369, 371-82 (2013)

National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986  • statute of limitations  • award of attorney's fees Roberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Kagan; Scalia, Thomas (in part)
116



Hillman v. Maretta 569 U.S. 483, 485-99 (2013)

Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act  • designation of beneficiary  • federal preemption Roberts, Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan; Scalia (in part)
Thomas
Alito
117



Peugh v. United States 569 U.S. 530, 532-51 (2013)

Federal Sentencing Guidelines  • Ex Post Facto Clause Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan; Kennedy (in part)
Thomas
Alito
118



Tarrant Regional Water Dist. v. Herrmann 569 U.S. 614, 618-40 (2013)

Red River Compact  • riparian water rights  • Dormant Commerce Clause Unanimous
219



Alleyne v. United States 570 U.S. 99, 118-22 (2013)

Sixth Amendment  • right to a jury trial  • mandatory minimum sentencing  • judicial factfinding Ginsburg, Kagan
Thomas
Breyer
Roberts
Alito
420



Mutual Pharmaceutical Co. v. Bartlett 570 U.S. 472, 496-520 (2013)

Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act  • federal preemption  • product liability Ginsburg
Alito
Breyer
421



Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl 570 U.S. 637, 668-92 (2013)

Indian Child Welfare Act  • termination of parental rights Ginsburg, Kagan; Scalia (in part)
Alito
Thomas
Breyer
Scalia

References

  • "2012 Term Opinions of the Court". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  • "2012 Term Opinions Relating to Orders". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved October 7, 2013.
  • "2012 Term In-Chambers Opinions". Supreme Court of the United States. Retrieved October 7, 2013.