Did the SCOTUS rule on this case in the past?
not that I can recall.
These are typical deportation cases where some illegal has been in the country for years on end and now they were caught and are applying for a hardship visa.
Most of the time these types of cases in the media are the lawyer trying to "puff" themselves as over and above the other dime-a-dozen immigration lawyers.
It's been winding its way through the courts for a while now. It looks like SCOTUS is hearing arguments today:
No. 04-1376Also see: Arguments Calendar: Session Beginning March 20, 2006Title: Humberto Fernandez-Vargas, Petitioner v. Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General
Docketed: April 14, 2005 Lower Ct: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Case Nos.: (03-9610)
Decision Date: January 12, 2005
Date Proceedings and Orders
Apr 12 2005 Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due May 16, 2005)
May 11 2005 Order extending time to file response to petition to and including June 15, 2005.
May 31 2005 Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including July 15, 2005.
Jul 15 2005 Order extending time to file response to petition to and including September 6, 2005.
Sep 6 2005 Order further extending time to file response to petition to and including September 27, 2005.
Sep 27 2005 Brief of respondent Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General filed.
Oct 11 2005 Reply of petitioner Humberto Fernandez-Vargas filed. (Distributed)
Oct 12 2005 DISTRIBUTED for Conference of October 28, 2005.
Oct 31 2005 Petition GRANTED.
Nov 14 2005 Extension of time within which to file the joint appendix and petitioner's brief on the merits to and including December 22, 2005.
Nov 14 2005 Extension of time to file respondent's brief on the merits to and including February 2, 2006.
Dec 2 2005 Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner Humberto Fernandez-Vargas. (Distributed)
Dec 12 2005 Motion to dispense with printing the joint appendix filed by petitioner GRANTED.
Dec 22 2005 Brief of petitioner Humberto Fernandez-Vargas filed.
Dec 22 2005 Brief amici curiae of American Immigration Law Foundation, et al. filed.
Jan 23 2006 SET FOR ARGUMENT on Wednesday, March 22, 2006.
Jan 23 2006 CIRCULATED.
Jan 31 2006 Extension of time within which to file respondent's brief on the merits to and including February 8, 2006.
Feb 8 2006 Brief of respondent Alberto R. Gonzales, Attorney General filed. (Distributed)
Feb 13 2006 Record received from U.S.C.A. - Tenth Circuit.
Mar 14 2006 Reply of petitioner Humberto Fernandez-Vargas filed. (Distributed)
[snip]