{"argument_date":"2004-12-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-12-06T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Cole argues the claims are not about prison conditions.","Mr. Lewis argues the Heck rule applies straightforwardly.","Justice Scalia questions if a habeas action fits this claim.","Justice Souter notes the lack of a clear durational consequence."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-11"}]}],"caption":"Wilkinson v. Dotson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.832103Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Prisoners seek damages for lost good-time credits. The state argues this claim requires proof of actual release.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 15-15"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-12-06T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-287.html","primary_docket":"03-287","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:10:51.657938Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["Prisoners lost good-time credits due to a procedural error. They sue for damages. The state says they must prove the error caused a longer stay."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 15-15"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Prisoners want damages for lost credits.","The state wants dismissal of the suit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 15-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Prisoners argue the loss of credits is a direct injury.","The state argues no injury exists without proof of delayed release."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 15-15"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asks if this claim fits habeas corpus.","Justice Souter questions if the durational consequence is clear."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when prisoners can sue for lost credits. It sets the standard for proving injury in prison litigation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 15-15"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-11"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-287-wilkinson-v-dotson","term":"2004","title":"Can prisoners sue for lost good-time credits without proving they will be released earlier?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-287.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 15-15"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}