{"argument_date":"2006-03-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-03-22T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Perkell argued Congress intended to require inmates to comply with administrative grievance procedures.","Mr. Feder argued a procedural default rule should not be read into the PLRA.","Mr. Himmelfarb argued the Ninth Circuit decision contradicts the text, history, and purposes of the PLRA."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 9-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-13"}]}],"caption":"Woodford v. Ngo","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.608513Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the Prison Litigation Reform Act forces inmates to exhaust internal prison appeals before filing federal lawsuits.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 9-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-03-22T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-416.html","primary_docket":"05-416","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:41:45.154680Z","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":["The case tests the scope of the Prison Litigation Reform Act. the sides that brought the case argue the law mandates using prison grievance procedures. the opposing sides claim the law allows inmates to skip those steps. The United States supports the sides that brought the case. The core conflict involves statutory interpretation and procedural requirements."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 9-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to mandate that inmates use prison grievance procedures before suing.","the opposing sides want the Court to allow inmates to ignore prison grievance procedures when filing suits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 9-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the statute text, history, and purpose require exhaustion of administrative remedies.","the opposing sides argue a procedural default rule should not be read into the statute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 9-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked about deference to first-line decisionmakers in prison settings.","Justice Breyer asked about the language of a predecessor act regarding available remedies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the procedural path for inmate lawsuits. It determines whether prisoners must navigate internal prison systems first. The outcome shapes access to federal courts for incarcerated individuals. It clarifies the balance between prison administration and judicial review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 9-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"}]},{"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 10, lines 37-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-13"}]}],"slug":"2005-05-416-woodford-v-ngo","term":"2005","title":"Must inmates use prison grievance systems before suing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 9-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 9-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-416.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}