{"argument_date":"2011-11-30T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-11-30T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Hawkins argued Congress did not grant federal courts authority to order consecutive sentences to unimposed state sentences.","Mr. Jay stated the Bureau of Prisons has historically decided where and when sentences are served.","Mr. Young argued the right to impose punishment is judicial and Congress must clearly transfer such authority.","Justice Sotomayor questioned the clarity of the statutory text regarding multiple terms of imprisonment."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 38-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 48-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 52-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 44-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 32-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 4-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-16"}]}],"caption":"Setser v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.766099Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.768817Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal judges hold the power to set the timing of sentences relative to future state convictions.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 38-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 48-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 52-24"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-11-30T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-7387.html","primary_docket":"10-7387","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:34:59.873188Z","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":["This case tests the scope of federal sentencing authority under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. The core issue is whether Congress granted district courts the power to order federal sentences to run consecutively to state sentences that have not yet been imposed. the side that brought the case argues this authority does not exist."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 38-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 48-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 52-24"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule that federal judges lack authority to order consecutive sentences to unimposed state sentences.","The government wants the Court to affirm that the Bureau of Prisons decides when federal sentences commence relative to state sentences."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 38-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 48-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 52-24"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues Congress did not clearly transfer the core judicial authority to impose punishment to the executive branch.","The government argues the Bureau of Prisons has historically decided where and when sentences are served, including their timing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 38-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 48-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 52-24"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked what is unclear about the statutory text stating multiple terms run consecutively.","Justice Alito asked who decides whether federal and state sentences run concurrently or consecutively in such situations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 44-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 32-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 4-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-16"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between judicial sentencing power and executive prison administration. It determines whether federal judges control the timing of sentences relative to future state convictions. The outcome shapes the balance of power between the judiciary and the Bureau of Prisons. It clarifies the scope of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 38-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 48-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 52-24"}]},{"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 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 44-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 32-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 32-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 4-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-16"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-7387-setser-v-united-states","term":"2011","title":"Can a federal judge order a sentence to run consecutively to a state sentence not yet imposed?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 38-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 38-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 48-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 48-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 52-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-7387.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 52-24"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}