U.S. Government Needs More Time to Write Response Brief in U.S. Supreme Court on Samoan Citizenship Case

The United States government response brief in Tuaua v U.S., 15-981 in the U.S. Supreme Court, was due on March 2. However, the government asked for, and received, an extension of time to April 1. This is the case about the meaning of this part of the Fourteenth Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.” The voters who brought the case were born in American Samoa and argue that they should be deemed citizens, and should not need to go through the naturalization process. Most of the voters who brought the case live in one of the fifty states, but they can’t vote because they haven’t used the naturalization process. Famous attorney Ted Olson represents them.

According to this statement on the web page of the supporters of the case, seven amicus curiae briefs are being filed in the U.S. Supreme Court. The U.S. Supreme Court already shows that the amicus briefs of the Puerto Rican Bar Association, some scholars of constitutional law, and the League of United Latin American Citizens, have been filed. Thanks to Rick Hasen for that link.


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