Does the Sixth Amendment Apply to Restitution? Two Justices Say the Answer May Be Yes

March 15, 2019  |  New York Law Journal

Beginning with Apprendi v. New Jersey in 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court has extended the Sixth Amendment to the imposition of terms of imprisonment and fines. In recent years, defendants have argued that the reasoning of Apprendi also applies to restitution – a mandatory and increasingly significant aspect of white-collar sentencing. While this argument has failed in the circuit courts, two justices of the Supreme Court, dissenting from a denial of certiorari, recently suggested that the high court should look closely at the issue. In this article, we discuss the brief dissent of Justice Gorsuch, joined by Justice Sotomayor, indicating that the Apprendi doctrine might appropriately be applied to restitution in criminal cases. 

Does the Sixth Amendment Apply to Restitution? Two Justices Say the Answer May Be Yes (pdf | 1.27 MB)