Legal Document

128 S. Ct. 475 (2007) James D. LOGAN, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES. No. 06-6911. Supreme Court of United States. Argued October 30, 2007. Decided December 4, *478 Richard A. Coad, Madison, WI, for petitioner. Daryl Joseffer, Washington, DC, respondent. Jeffrey T. Green, Sidley Austin LLP, D.C., Brian Fahl, Counsel Record, Milwaukee, Petitioner. Paul Clement, Solicitor General, Alice Fisher, Assistant Attorney Michael R. Dreeben, Deputy to the Joel M. Gershowitz, Attorney, Department Justice, Justice GINSBURG delivered opinion Court. Petitioner Logan pleaded guilty in a States District being felon possession firearm, violation 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1). Logan's record as recidivist, which included three relevant state convictions, led impose 15-year prison term, minimum sentence mandated by *479 Armed Career Criminal Act 1984 (ACCA), 924(e)(1) (2000 ed., Supp. V). For ACCA sentence-enhancement purposes, prior conviction may be disregarded if "has been expunged, or set aside," offender pardoned has had civil rights restored." 921(a)(20) ed.). None convictions have expunged aside. Nor he any past crime. And, bearing importantly on instant petition, state-court that triggered ACCA-enhanced occasioned no loss rights. Challenging his enhanced sentence, presents this question: Does "civil restored" exemption contained encompass, and therefore remove from ACCA's reach, at time deprived rights? We hold provision does not cover case an who retained all times, whose legal status, postconviction, remained respects unaltered dispensation. Section sets out postconviction eventsexpungement, aside, pardon, restoration rightsthat extend measure forgiveness, relieving him some consequences conviction. Congress might broadened attended The national lawmakers, however, did do so. 921(a)(20)'s failure exempt revoke produces anomalies. But so extension advances. are equipped say what statutory alteration, any, would made its attention trained offenders rights; nor can we recast Congress' stead. I Federal law generally prohibits firearm person convicted "a crime punishable imprisonment term exceeding one year." Ordinarily, maximum felon-in-possession is 10 years. See 924(a)(2). If offender's criminal includes least "violent felon[ies]" "serious drug offense[s]," increases life, mandates 15 defined felony" include specified crimes "punishable 924(e)(2)(B) An offense classified State misdemeanor, qualify ACCA-enhancement purposes (or predicate under 922(g)) only more than two years prison. 921(a)(20)(B). In Dickerson New Banner Institute, Inc., 460 U.S. 103, 103 986, 74 L. Ed. 2d 845 (1983), held State's expungement nullify firearms disabilities placed §§ 922(g)(1) (h)(1). ruling, noted our decision ensure greater uniformity federal sentences. id., 119-120, 986. Provisions "var[ied] widely State," observed, 120, yielded "nothing less patchwork," 122, Firearms Owners' Protection (FOPA), 100 Stat. 449 (1986), amended response Dickerson's holding that, disabilities, *480 determine present impact excludes qualification "crime year" misdemeanor prison): "Any aside restored ... unless such expungement, expressly provides ship, transport, possess, receive firearms." 921(a)(20).[1] While define rights," courts held, petitioner agrees, above-quoted vote, office, serve jury. Brief 13, n. 10; cf. Caron States, 524 308, 316, 118 2007, 141 303 (1998). II On May 31, 2005, police officers responded domestic disturbance complaint girlfriend, Asenath Wilson. App. 9, 12. Wilson told officers, among other things, she seen with gun usually kept it car. Ibid. Logan, was when arrived, consented search Id., 11. hidden compartment behind glove box, found 9-millimeter handgun. 9-10, after having felony. (In 1991, Illinois court unlawful controlled substance. 12.) Western Wisconsin sentenced years, mandatory ACCA. imposing took account battery each years' imprisonment. 16-18.[2] Both appeal, argued *481 offenses because they caused Rights retained, urged, functionally equivalent revoked but later restored. covered lieu ACCA, see 924(a)(2), Sentencing Guidelines indicated range 37 46 months, 5. rejected argument, "applies defendants were both lost pursuant statutes." Pet. Cert. Accordingly, Appeals Seventh Circuit affirmed, concluding "an neither diminished returned `has restored.'" 453 F.3d 804, 805 (2006). argument treating same way rights, appeals "go[es] teeth [§ 921(a)(20)'s] text." granted certiorari, 549 ___, 127 1251, 167 72 (2007), resolve split Circuits whether exception should interpreted times. Compare F.3d, 809 (case below) ("civil never revoked), McGrath 60 1005 (C.A.2 1995) (same), Indelicato, 97 627, 631 (C.A.1 1996) lost). III 922(g)(1), received felon[ies]." He acknowledges facially violent felonies 921(a)(20)(B) 4-5. Thus sole matter dispute fits within "expunged, aside" "ha[ve] ha[ve] 921(a)(20). pardoned. 809. Under law, felons lose regain their gain removal disabilities. Wis. 6.03(1)(b) (Supp.2006); Const., Art. XIII, §3(2); 756.02 (2001); 973.176(1) (2007). Persons misdemeanors, even repeat offenders, retain subject With background view, turn proper interpretation sentencing reiterate, result public juries. Should nonetheless ranked terminated *482 restored? ordinary meaning word "restored" affords aid. line dictionary definitions,[3] stated: "The `restore' means give back something taken away." 805. Accord McGrath, 1007 ("The `restoration' thing definitional impossibility."); 629 ("Clearly reading `restored' supports government."). context appears counsels adherence word's meaning. Words list known company keep. E.g., Dole Steelworkers, 494 26, 36, 110 929, 108 23 (1990); Beecham 511 368, 371, 114 1669, 383 (1994). 921(a)(20), words appear "expunged," "set "pardoned." Each describes government relieves contrast, defendant retains simply left alone. receives status-altering dispensation, token forgiveness government. Opposing plain-meaning approach language enacted, relies dominantly harsh results literal could yield: Unless retention treated legally serious will penalties while State, restored, escape heightened punishment. Reply 8 ("[I]ndividuals committed whereas misdemeanants must suffer sentencing."). urges resulttreating those harshly lost, then regained, rightsis merely anomalous; rises level absurd, particularly where automatic occurs immediately upon release Caron, U.S., 313, 2007 (automatic qualifies exemption). note, overlooks "unless" clause. provision, gains application through dispensation "expressly [offender] Many restore felons' accord another forgiveness) 30 (citing, inter alia, La. Ann. 14:95.1(C) (West Supp.2007), lifted further felony intervene).[4] *483 note addressed, prospectively eliminated, anomaly asserts encountered: longer punishes misdemeanors imprisonment, thus predicates. supra, 480-481, 2. One demur produce anomalous results, resolution proposesreading into retainedwould correct potential creating others. 1009. proposed construction, most dangerous recidivists fall exemption. example, Maine deprive Lodging National Association Defense Lawyers et al. Amici Curiae (NACDL Lodging), 1, pp. 23-24. As us read crimes, including first-degree murder, [have been] restored," elsewhere not. Second incisively identified Dickerson, 479-480, cause multiple anomalies produce: "[Congress'] events governed insured results. several states considerably different laws governing forfeiture Furthermore, drastically policies circumstances discretionary acts grace extended.... [Anomalies generated 921(a)(20)] inevitable consequence making access depend differing states." 807 ("When replaced Dickerso[n] ensured similarly situated people differentlyfor vary convict loses these restored."). also Love, Relief Collateral Consequences Conviction: A State-by-State Resource Guide (2006), updated online http://www.sentencing project.org/PublicationDetails.aspx? PublicationID=486 (as visited Nov. 27, Clerk Court's file) (surveying practices). Were accept bears emphasis, undercut 921(a)(20)(B), places reach Because state-law entail revocation rights,[5] "retained" yield curiosity: carried terms over released grip virtue disinclined *484 imposed hand (exposure ACCA) withdrew (exemption ACCA). assume, arguendo, revised 1986, 478, labored misapprehension offendersmisdemeanants well felonsforfeit temporarily. Even indulging assumption repair congressional oversight mistake,[6] hardly divine revision Legislature favor. Perhaps choose plausible insufficiently indicative official forgiveness. Or, elect restorations along expungements, asides, pardons nonautomatic, i.e., case-by-case basis. Homing disparities resulting diverse legislation, 483, revise provide, rather defines 922 924. 806-807. events, adopted ten given current shape cautions against mean deny 1996, enacted 922(g)(9), outlaws anyone "who convicted... violence." Pub.L. 104-208, Tit. VI, 658, 3009-371 3009-372. Tailored corresponding reads: "A shall considered [a violence] (if applicable jurisdiction offense) 921(a)(33)(B)(ii) (emphasis added). tracks specifying dispensations cancel lingering effects emphasized parenthetical shows away. 808. casts considerable doubt hypothesis adverted issue drafted category persons regained enactment absurdity argument. 482. Statutory terms, "could conceivably intended apply" hand. Cabell Markham, 148 F.2d 737, 739(CA2) (L. Hand, J.), aff'd, 326 404, 66 193, 90 165 (1945); *485 Green Bock Laundry Machine Co., 490 504, 511, 109 1981, 104 557 (1989) (Federal Rule Evidence 609(a)(1) "can't says" (internal quotation marks omitted)). case, maintained meant said. explicitly distinguished between 921(a)(33)(B)(ii). It "conceivable" Legislature, albeit earlier one, 477-478, sum, framed purposes. Tr. Oral Arg. 28-29. sought classifies yet substantial defer disabling 478. Had retention-of-rights exemption, very reach. 483-484. complains result. Yet solution proposes 483. Having warrant stray text, * reasons stated, judgment Affirmed. NOTES [1] Act, 449, "safety valve" apply General relief 925(c) rendered inoperative, repeatedly barred using appropriated funds "to investigate act [relief] applications." Bean, 537 71, 74-75, 123 584, 154 483 (2002) omitted). bar funding renewed every year 1992 2006. 75, 3, 584 (1992 2002); Consolidated Appropriations Resolution, 2003, 117 433; 2004, 53; 2859; Science, Commerce, Related Agencies 2006, 119 2290. [2] ordinarily nine months. 940.19(1) (2005); 939.51(3). exposed three-year offense, "repeater" "habitual" criminal. 16-17; 939.62 (1999-2000). Postdating reduced 2001 109, 562 (Jan.2002 special session) (amending 939.62). Misdemeanors reduction felonies" count predicates solely status recidivist offender. express matter. Cf. Rodriquez, 464 1072 (C.A.9 2006), cert. granted, 551 33, ___ L.Ed.2d [3] See, e.g., Webster's Third International Dictionary 1936 (1993) (defining "restore" "give away)"); American Heritage 1486 (4th ed.2000) "bring existence use; reestablish"); 13 Oxford English 755 (2d ed.1989) back, [or] make return restitution (anything previously away lost)"). [4] Courts divided question clause whenever continuation proscriptions, individual notice Compare, Cassidy, 899 543, (C.A.6 1990) (courts look "the whole law"), Gallaher, 275 784, 791, 3 2001) (individualized required). issue. [5] NACDL Lodging, 1 (compiling laws); 17-34 (indicating Connecticut, Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, Nebraska, Hampshire misdemeanant's provide punishment certain classify years). [6] Iselin 270 245, 251, 248, 70 566 (1926) ("enlargement statute] [a] court, omitted, presumably inadvertence, scope transcends judicial function").

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