DePierre v. United States, 564 U.S. 70 (2011), was a case in which the Supreme Court of the United States held that the use of the term "cocaine base" in 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)[1] refers to cocaine in its chemically basic form.[2] The decision of the Court was unanimous, except with respect to Part III–A.
| DePierre v. United States | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Argued February 28, 2011 Decided June 9, 2011 | |
| Full case name | Frantz DePierre, Petitioner v. United States |
| Docket no. | 09-1533 |
| Citations | 564 U.S. 70 (more) 131 S. Ct. 2225; 180 L. Ed. 2d 114 |
| Argument | Oral argument |
| Case history | |
| Prior | Conviction affirmed, 599 F.3d 25 (1st Cir. 2010); cert. granted, 562 U.S. ___ (2010). |
| Holding | |
| The term "cocaine base" in refers to cocaine in its chemically basic form. | |
| Court membership | |
| |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Sotomayor, joined by Roberts, Kennedy, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Kagan; Scalia (except Part III–A) |
| Concurrence | Scalia (in part) |
| Laws applied | |
Background
A federal court found Frantz DePierre guilty of distributing cocaine in April 2008. Additionally, DePierre was found guilty of distributing more than 50 grams of "cocaine base, which carries a 10-year minimum sentence." Following this conviction, DePierre was sentenced to 10 years in a federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release. Two years later, the US Court of Appeals upheld the sentencing,
Question Before the Court
Does the term "cocaine base" cover a broad spectrum of cocaine defined chemically as a base, or is the term specifically limited to the use and distribution of "crack" cocaine?[3]
Decision of the Court
In a unanimous decision, Justice Sotomayor wrote the opinion of the Court defining cocaine base as not just crack cocaine, but any substance that contains "cocaine in its chemically basic form."[4]
Concurring Opinion
Justice Scalia wrote a brief, humorous concurring opinion arguing that the Court's look into legislative history is unneeded and potentially harmful.
See also
References
External links
- Text of DePierre v. United States, 564 U.S. 70 (2011) is available from: Google Scholar Justia Oyez (oral argument audio) Supreme Court (slip opinion) (archived)