Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/boundvolumes/529bv.pdf
Page Number: 321

529US1

Unit: $U40

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246

GARNER v. JONES

Opinion of the Court

statute and regulations, and therefore whether the amended Rule cre-
ated a signiﬁcant risk of increased punishment. Absent a demonstra-
tion to the contrary, it is presumed that the Board follows its statutory
commands and internal policies. Pp. 256–257.

3. The Eleventh Circuit’s analysis failed to reveal whether the
amended Rule, in its operation, created a signiﬁcant risk of increased
punishment for respondent. He claims that he has not been permitted
sufﬁcient discovery to make this showing. The matter of adequate dis-
covery is one for the Court of Appeals or, as need be, for the District
Court in the ﬁrst instance. P. 257.

164 F. 3d 589, reversed and remanded.

Kennedy, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Rehnquist,
C. J., and O’Connor, Thomas, and Breyer, JJ., joined. Scalia, J., ﬁled
an opinion concurring in part in the judgment, post, p. 257. Souter, J.,
ﬁled a dissenting opinion, in which Stevens and Ginsburg, JJ., joined,
post, p. 260.

Christopher S. Brasher, Senior Assistant Attorney Gen-
eral of Georgia, argued the cause for petitioners. With him
on the briefs were Thurbert E. Baker, Attorney General,
Mary Beth Westmoreland, Deputy Attorney General, and
Jacqueline F. Bunn, Assistant Attorney General.

Elizabeth Thompson Kertscher argued the cause for re-
spondent. With her on the brief were William V. Custer
and LeeAnn Jones.*

Justice Kennedy delivered the opinion of the Court.
We granted certiorari to decide whether the retroactive
application of a Georgia law permitting the extension of in-
tervals between parole considerations violates the Ex Post
Facto Clause. The Court of Appeals found that retroactive
application of the change in the law was necessarily an ex
post facto violation.
In disagreement with that determi-
nation, we reverse its judgment and remand for further
proceedings.

*Jill A. Pryor, Steven R. Shapiro, and Gerald Weber ﬁled a brief for the
American Civil Liberties Union et al. as amici curiae urging afﬁrmance.