{"argument_date":"2011-04-25T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-04-25T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's counsel argued that statutory words, purpose, and results all matter when construing the law.","The government's counsel emphasized that the statute defines qualifying offenses by the maximum term prescribed by law.","Justices debated whether the present tense in the statute refers to the time of the prior offense or the current sentencing date."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"caption":"McNeill v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.776053Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a state law change that increased a maximum sentence applies to past convictions.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-04-25T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-5258.html","primary_docket":"10-5258","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:55:34.213471Z","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 how courts count prior convictions when state laws change sentencing rules."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the court to count his prior convictions based on the law in effect when he committed them.","The government wants the court to count his prior convictions based on the current maximum sentence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that the statute requires looking at the law that existed when the prior offense occurred.","The government argues that the statute refers to the maximum term prescribed by law at the time of sentencing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if the state prescribes a ten-year maximum for the defendant because the law change was not retroactive.","Justice Sotomayor questioned the logic of punishing someone for activity that was considered less serious at the time of the crime."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines how courts calculate criminal history scores for federal sentencing. It affects the length of prison sentences for defendants with prior state convictions. The outcome clarifies the interaction between state sentencing laws and federal sentencing guidelines."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"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 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"slug":"2010-10-5258-mcneill-v-united-states","term":"2010","title":"Does a prior conviction count if the law changed the maximum sentence after the crime?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5258.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}