Fischer v. United States
Lower Court: D.C. Circuit • Last updated: June 28, 2024
Plain-Language Summary
The Court narrowed the reach of a federal obstruction law that prosecutors used to charge many January 6th defendants. The law makes it a crime to obstruct an 'official proceeding,' and the government used it against people who disrupted the certification of the 2020 election results.
The 6-3 majority ruled that this law only applies when someone tampers with documents or records used in an official proceeding, not just when someone disrupts the proceeding itself. This means the government cannot use this particular charge as broadly as it had been.
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Why This Matters
This decision directly affected hundreds of January 6th cases where defendants were charged with obstruction. It narrowed the government's ability to bring serious felony charges and could reduce sentences for some defendants. The ruling also clarified the limits of federal obstruction laws more broadly.