Brett Stuff
Judging the Judges
Term Year: 2018

2018-51
17-778
Jamar Alonzo Quarles, Petitioner v. United States


Summary Analysis

R-51
DATE: 2019-06-10
DOCKET: 17-778
NAME: Jamar Alonzo Quarles, Petitioner v. United States
WORTHY: False

OPINION: Court
   AUTHOR: Kavanaugh
   JOINING: Roberts, Thomas, Ginsburg, Breyer, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan, Gorsuch
   GOOD: Yes
PAGES: 10

OPINION: Concurring
   AUTHOR: Thomas
   JOINING: None
   GOOD: No
PAGES: 2


Case Commentary

Per my reading (un-nuanced as it is), Thomas' Opinion contains (and/or is formed around) a major internal inconsistency.
The categorical approach relies on a comparison of the crime of conviction and judicially created ideal of burglary. But the ideal is starkly different from the reality of petitioner's actual crime: Petitioner attempted to climb through an apartment window to attack his ex-girlfriend.

Moreover, any reasonable jury reviewing the record here would have concluded that petitioner was convicted of burglary, so any error was harmless.


Let me just say, it ain't over until I say it is over... and/or until such a time as a reasonable jury agrees.



But then, I have no truck with The Categorical Approach. I think Sentence Enhancers (plus fifteen years, in the case at hand, for being a felon in possession of a firearm) are unfair. But then, given the enhancement, The Categorical Approach is a workable way of determining such enhancements.



Mens Rea: A Mind that has the quality of Guilt... or if you like, Guilty Mind.

Actus Reus: An Act that has the quality of Guilt... or if you like, Guilty Act.


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