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Deborah K. Johnson v. Donna Kay Lee

578 U.S. 605 · Decided May 31, 2016 · Supreme Court of the United States

Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.

At a glance

Deborah K. Johnson v. Donna Kay Lee was decided on May 31, 2016 unanimously (8–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. The decision was issued per curiam (an unsigned opinion of the Court). SCDB classifies its main issue as “Habeas corpus” in the Criminal Procedure area.

Read the opinion

Case details

Citations
578 U.S. 605 · 136 S. Ct. 1802 · 195 L. Ed. 2d 92 · 2016 U.S. LEXIS 3488
Docket number
15-789
Decided
May 31, 2016
Court era
Roberts Court
Decision type
Per curiam (no oral argument)
Disposition
Reversed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
Vote
8–0 (unanimous)
Opinion assigned by
John G. Roberts Jr.
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Issue (SCDB)
Habeas corpus
Type of law
No legal provision
Decision direction (SCDB)
Conservative what this means

How the Justices voted

JusticeVoteSeparate writing
Justice Anthony M. KennedyMajority
Justice Clarence ThomasMajority
Justice Ruth Bader GinsburgMajority
Justice Stephen G. BreyerMajority
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.Majority
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.Majority
Justice Sonia SotomayorMajority
Justice Elena KaganMajority

Full case caption

Deborah K. Johnson, Warden v. Donna Kay Lee

SCDB identifiers: case 2015-078, docket 2015-078-01.

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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error