{"argument_date":"2006-10-30T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-10-30T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Andre stated the sides that brought the case filed administrative grievances with the Michigan Department of Corrections.","Ms. Olivieri stated Congress enacted the Prison Litigation Reform Act to reduce the flood of prisoner litigation.","Justice Breyer noted that many prisoner claims are hard to decipher and often lack substance.","Justice Breyer asked if the solution requires amending the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-17"}]}],"caption":"Jones v. Bock","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.227310Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Prisoners argue they need not prove they used internal complaint systems. Officials argue courts must dismiss cases lacking that proof.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 15-25"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-10-30T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-7058.html","primary_docket":"05-7058","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:53:12.119791Z","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 asks if federal courts must dismiss prisoner lawsuits that fail to prove the use of internal prison complaint systems."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 15-25"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 30, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want courts to accept their lawsuits without proof of internal complaint use.","the opposing sides want courts to dismiss lawsuits that lack proof of internal complaint use."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 15-25"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the Prison Litigation Reform Act does not require proof of internal complaint use.","the opposing sides argue the Prison Litigation Reform Act requires proof of internal complaint use."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 15-25"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if courts could request pleadings that state the facts of exhaustion.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if ignoring the exhaustion requirement makes a claim frivolous regardless of merit substance."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether federal courts must screen prisoner lawsuits for internal complaint use. It affects the volume of cases courts must process. It impacts how quickly prisoners can seek legal remedies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 15-25"}]},{"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 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-17"}]}],"slug":"2006-05-7058-jones-v-bock","term":"2006","title":"Must prisoners prove they used prison complaint systems before suing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-7058.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 15-25"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}