King v. United States

Amicus curiae brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Cato Institute and the Texas Public Policy Foundation in support of the petition for certiorari.

Brief filed: 03/07/2012

Documents

King v. United States

United States Supreme Court; Case No. 11-959

Prior Decision

Decision below 660 F.3d 1071 (9th Cir. 2011).

Question Presented

Should an individual face federal criminal liability under 18 U.S.C. §1001 for a false statement made to a person unconnected to the federal government at a time when no federal investigation exists merely because the statement concerns an issue over which the federal government may exercise discretionary regulatory authority?

Argument(s)

18 U.S.C. § 1001 criminalizes the knowing and willful making of materially false statements in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States. Judicial expansions of §1001 have invited prosecutors to stretch the statute beyond its proper reach and an improperly broad definition of a “matter within the jurisdiction” clause presents significant risks of overcriminalization and misuse, resulting in wrongful convictions.

Author(s)

Andrew T. Wise and Kevin G. Mosley, Miller & Chevalier Chtd., Washington, DC.