Khanh Phuong Nguyen v. United States et al. (539 U.S. 69)
U.S. Supreme Court · decided June 9, 2003 · Supreme Court Database (Spaeth)
- Citation
- 539 U.S. 69 · 123 S. Ct. 2130
- Decided
- June 9, 2003
- Term
- October Term 2002
- Vote
- 5–4
- Majority author
- Justice Stevens
- Issue area
- Judicial Power
- Disposition
- Vacated and remanded
- Outcome
- Petitioning party won
- Ideological direction
- Liberal
Opinion excerpt
Justice Stevens delivered the opinion of the Court. These cases present the question whether a panel of the Court of Appeals consisting of two Article III judges and one Article IV judge had the authority to decide petitioners’ appeals. We conclude it did not, and we therefore vacate the judgments of the Court of Appeals. Petitioners are residents of the island of Guam, which has been a possession of the United States since the end of the Spanish-American War. The Navy administered the island, except for the period of Japanese occupation during World War II, until Congress established Guam as an unincorporated Territory with the passage of the Organic Act of Guam in 1950. Pursuant to Congress’ authority under Article IV, § 3, of the Constitution to “make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States,” the Organic Act of Guam created a territorial court, the District Court of Guam, and vested it with subject-matter jurisdiction over causes arising under both federal law and local law. Petitioners were tried before a jury, convicted, and sentenced in the District Court of Guam to lengthy prison terms for federal narcotics offenses. Petitioners do not dispute that court’s jurisdiction to conduct their criminal trial and enter judgments of conviction. As authorized by statute, petitioners appealed their convictions to…
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