Supreme Court of the United States

Sykes v. United States

June 9, 2011131 S. Ct. 2267

Summary

The Supreme Court held that Indiana's felony vehicle flight statute qualifies as a 'violent felony' under the Armed Career Criminal Act's residual clause. The Court reasoned that the offense categorically presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another, comparable to burglary and arson. Justice Thomas concurred in the judgment, and Justices Scalia and Kagan dissented, arguing the residual clause is void for vagueness and that the Indiana statute's structure distinguishes non-violent flight.