Supreme Court strikes down 'vague' part of career criminal law

The Supreme Court on Friday struck down part of a federal law that is intended to keep people convicted of repeated violent crimes in prison longer.

The court sided with defendant Samuel James Johnson, who pleaded guilty to federal weapons charges in 2012. Johnson was sentenced to 15 years in prison — five more years than he otherwise would have gotten — because of his prior convictions. According to federal authorities, Johnson is a white supremacist who formed the Aryan Liberation Movement. He was arrested in 2012 for taking part in a plan to attack the government, minorities and others, the government said.

The justices ruled on Friday that a catchall phrase in the Armed Career Criminal Act, defining what crimes make a defendant eligible for a longer prison term, is too vague.

That law lists burglary, arson, extortion and the use of an explosive as specific categories of previous crimes that can lead to a longer sentence. But it also says a violent felony is a crime that "otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another."

The court initially agreed to hear Johnson's case to decide whether mere possession of a sawed-off shotgun qualifies as a violent felony under the enhanced sentencing law.

But in January, two months after hearing the case, the court ordered another round of arguments over whether that catchall phrase was so vague as to be unconstitutional.

Six justices agreed that the catchall phrase in the law is unconstitutional. Two others agreed only on the outcome, saying they would find that Johnson's conviction for possession of the sawed-off shotgun does not qualify as a felony under the law.

The justices have struggled with the phrase for years. Justice Antonin Scalia had called on his colleagues to rule it unconstitutional since 2011.

The Armed Career Criminal Act makes defendants eligible for longer prison terms if they have three prior convictions for crimes that are either violent felonies or serious drug offenses. Misdemeanors also qualify if they have maximum prison terms of more than two years.

The Associated Press