Supreme Court of the United States
Sykes v. United States
June 9, 2011131 S. Ct. 2267
Summary
Sykes v. United States held that a conviction for vehicular flight under Indiana law qualifies as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act's residual clause. The Court concluded that such flight inherently presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to others, comparable to burglary and arson. Justices Kagan and Scalia dissented, arguing the statute covers non-violent conduct and the residual clause is unconstitutionally vague, respectively. Justice Thomas concurred in judgment, rejecting the "purposeful, violent, and aggressive" test as unnecessary.