---
title: "Dorsey v. United States"
citation: "Dorsey v. United States, 567 U.S. 260 (2012)"
authority_id: "AUTH-SCOTUS-DORSEY-567-US-260"
authority_type: "case"
jurisdiction: "federal_nationwide"
precedential_status: "binding"
official_url: "https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/567bv.pdf"
url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-SCOTUS-DORSEY-567-US-260/"
legal_review: "2026-08-25"
links_checked: "2026-10-15"
links_available: 1
links_checked_count: 1
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Dorsey v. United States

## Holding used

The Fair Sentencing Act's lower mandatory minimums apply to pre-Act offenders sentenced on or after August 3, 2010.

## Material limitation

*Dorsey* decided the pipeline-sentencing question. It did not create First Step Act § 404, and § 404 eligibility must be applied from Congress's later text.

## Official source and pinpoint

Supreme Court bound volume, 567 U.S. 260, 264 and 281: <https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/boundvolumes/567bv.pdf>


## Used in

- [First Step Act § 404 — Retroactive Fair Sentencing Act Relief](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/70-sentence-modification/first-step-act-section-404.md)
- [Rules 35 and 36 — Sentence Correction, Assistance, Record Error, and Appeals](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/70-sentence-modification/rules-35-36-and-modification-appeals.md)