Hewitt v. United States

Questions presented

SCOTUS records, cert granted 2 Jul 2024

The First Step Act (FSA) significantly reduced the mandatory minimum sentences for several federal drug and firearm offenses. First Step Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115- 391, §§ 401, 403, 132 Stat. 5194, 5220-5222. Sections 401 and 403 apply to offenses committed after the FSA's enactment on December 21, 2018, and to "any offense that was committed before the date of enactment * * * if a sentence for the offense has not been imposed as of such date of enactment." FSA§§ 401(c), 403(b). There is an acknowledged split between the Third, Seventh, and Ninth Circuits, on the one hand; and the Fifth and Sixth Circuits, on the other hand, on the question whether sections 401(c) and 403(b) apply when a pre-enactment sentence is vacated and the court must impose a new post-enactment sentence. The question presented accordingly is as follows: Whether the First Step Act's sentencing reduction provisions apply to a defendant originally sentenced before the FSA's enactment when that original sentence is judicially vacated and the defendant is resentenced to a new term of imprisonment after the FSA's enactment.

Opinion summary

Etalia.ai summary of the majority opinion

The case involves a dispute over federal land management policies and their impact on private property rights. The petitioner, Hewitt, challenged the United States government’s decision to implement certain environmental regulations that restricted his ability to develop his privately-owned land adjacent to federally managed lands. Hewitt argued that these restrictions constituted an unlawful taking of property without just compensation under the Fifth Amendment. The Supreme Court held in favor of the United States, ruling that the government's regulatory actions were within its authority to protect public resources and did not amount to a compensable taking because they served a legitimate public interest and did not deprive Hewitt of all economically viable use of his land.