{"argument_date":"2015-11-04T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-11-04T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Shelley argued the per-prisoner approach fits the text.","Ms. Saharsky argued the statute views each case separately.","Justice Ginsburg asked about cost awards after a loss.","Justice Scalia questioned the disincentive for filing many cases."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 22-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 50-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 16-28"}]}],"caption":"Bruce v. Samuels","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.849302Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Prisoners dispute whether they must pay all district court fees before paying appeal fees.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 50-8"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-11-04T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/14-844.html","primary_docket":"14-844","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T20:00:55.752098Z","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 the Prison Litigation Reform Act calculates fees for appeals."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 50-8"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 4, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want to pay appeal fees before finishing district court fees.","the opposing sides want prisoners to finish district court fees first."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 50-8"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the law supports paying fees per prisoner.","the opposing sides argue the law requires full payment of prior fees."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 50-8"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if appeal fees wait for district fees.","Justice Scalia asked if filing many cases avoids paying fees."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 22-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 16-28"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute changes how much money prisoners pay to sue."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 50-8"}]},{"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 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 22-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 22-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 16-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 16-28"}]}],"slug":"2015-14-844-bruce-v-samuels","term":"2015","title":"How much do prisoners pay to appeal?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 50-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-844_4fci.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 50-8"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}