United States v. Rodriquez (U.S. Supreme Court)

The Armed Career Criminals Act requires that offenders who have been previously convicted of three or more serious offenses receive an enhanced sentence.  Our client, who we represented in conjunction with the Yale Law School Supreme Court Clinic, had prior convictions for two serious offenses and one minor offense.  However, under Washington Law, because of his criminal record, he was subject to an increased sentence for his third offense—the most minor.  We argued before the U.S. Supreme Court that because his third offense was a minor one, it should not be considered a predicate for purposes of a sentencing enhancement under the Armed Career Criminals Act.