Wilkins v. United States
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Wilkins v. United States and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Wilkins v. United States.
The Supreme Court decided that the 12-year time limit under the Quiet Title Act is a nonjurisdictional claims-processing rule. This decision reversed the Ninth Circuit's interpretation that the time limit was jurisdictional. The Court emphasized that procedural requirements are jurisdictional only if Congress clearly states so.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Wilkins v. United States.
The Court held that Section 2409a(g) of the Quiet Title Act is a nonjurisdictional claims-processing rule.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Wilkins v. United States. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to Wilkins v. United States
The Court's decision involves the interpretation of statutory provisions and whether they are jurisdictional, which is a key aspect of judicial review.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Held: Section 2409a(g) is a nonjurisdictional claims-processing rule.
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Why Procedural Due Process is relevant to Wilkins v. United States
The case involves the interpretation of procedural rules and their impact on the orderly progress of litigation, which relates to procedural due process.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Nonjurisdictional claim-processing rules generally include a range of 'threshold requirements that claimants must complete, or exhaust, before filing a lawsuit.'
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Wilkins v. United States that support the summary and concepts above.
Section 2409a(g) is a nonjurisdictional claims-processing rule.
This Court has often explained that Congress's separation of a filing deadline from a jurisdictional grant indicates that the time bar is not jurisdictional.
Block is a textbook 'drive-by jurisdictional ruling.'