United States Parole Commission v. Geraghty
United States Supreme Court
445 U.S. 388 (1980)
- Written by Megan Petersen, JD
Facts
Geraghty (plaintiff) was a federal prisoner who, after twice being denied parole from a federal prison, brought suit challenging the validity of the United States Parole Commission’s Parole Release Guidelines. Geraghty requested the district court to certify the suit as a class action on behalf of a class of “all federal prisoners who are or who will become eligible for release on parole.” The district court denied this request and granted summary judgment for the United States Parole Commission (defendant). Geraghty appealed but was released from prison while his appeal was pending in the court of appeals. The court of appeals ruled that his release did not make the case moot and reversed the district court’s denial of the class certification. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari to consider the issue of mootness.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Blackmun, J.)
Dissent (Powell, J.)
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