Case Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Curtis A. KING, Defendant-Appellant
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2005-10-28
Citations: 153 F. App'x 387
Docket Number: No. 04-3733
Parties: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Curtis A. KING, Defendant-Appellant.
Judges: Before COFFEY, EASTERBROOK, and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 153
Pages: 387–387

Head Matter:
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Curtis A. KING, Defendant-Appellant.
No. 04-3733.
United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
Submitted Oct. 28, 2005.
Decided Oct. 28, 2005.
David Reinhard, Office of the United States Attorney, Madison, WI, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Christopher T. Van Wagner, Van Wagner & Wood, Madison, WI, for Defendant-Appellant.
Before COFFEY, EASTERBROOK, and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
Order
The defendant's sentence was enhanced because of a prior conviction. His sole contention on appeal is that this conviction had to be alleged in the indictment and proved to a jury's satisfaction. He concedes that Almendarez-Torres v. United States, 523 U.S. 224, 118 S.Ct. 1219, 140 L.Ed.2d 350 (1998), rejected this precise contention but contends that AlmendarezTorres is no longer good law. This argument is not one that we are free to entertain, however; only the Supreme Court can decide when one of its decisions will be overruled. The Justices continue to recite the Almendarez-Torres limitation on the approach adopted by Apprendi v. New Jersey, 530 U.S. 466, 120 S.Ct. 2348, 147 L.Ed.2d 435 (2000). See United States v. Booker, 543 U.S. 220, 125 S.Ct. 738, 756, 160 L.Ed.2d 621 (2005): "Any fact (other than a prior conviction) which is necessary to support a sentence exceeding the maximum authorized by the facts established by a plea of guilty or a guilty verdict must be admitted by the defendant or proved to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt." (Emphasis added.) Defendant's counsel therefore raises the contention only to preserve it for presentation to the Supreme Court. That task has been accomplished, and we send the case on its way.
Affirmed