Schock v. United States
Schock v. United States
Opinion
Petitioner Aaron Schock, a former Congressman from Illinois, asks us to decide whether he may immediately appeal, as a collateral order, the denial of his motion to dismiss part of a criminal indictment against him for running afoul of the Constitution's Rulemaking Clause. See Art. I, § 5. He argues that certain charges against him would require the District Court for the Central District of Illinois to interpret internal rules adopted by the House of Representatives to govern its own Members, and thus would violate separation-of-powers doctrine. The Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that denials of such Rulemaking Clause challenges are not collateral orders subject to immediate appeal,
It is not clear, however, that this case cleanly presents the question whether such orders are, as a general matter, immediately appealable. The District Court here denied the motion to dismiss on Rulemaking Clause grounds only provisionally, stating that it would revisit the matter "if at any time it becomes apparent that the prosecution will rely upon evidence that requires the interpretation of House Rules."
I therefore concur in the Court's decision to deny certiorari. I do so on the understanding, however, that Schock remains free to reassert his Rulemaking Clause challenge in the District Court should subsequent developments warrant. *
In its briefing to the Court of Appeals, the Government argued that the House regulations were, in fact, " 'necessary' " and "important" to prove other charges still pending. Brief for Appellee in No. 17-3277 (CA7), p. 55. Those representations may be pertinent to the District Court's further consideration of Schock's arguments.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Aaron J. SCHOCK v. UNITED STATES
- Status
- Relating-to