{"argument_date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-1063","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard this case in Washington, D. C. on March 3, 2026, starting at 10:05 a. m. Lisa S. Blatt argued for Hunter. Zoe A. Jacoby argued for the United States.","Justice Gorsuch clarified the scope: only waiver of sentencing errors is before the Court. Hunter's lawyer confirmed that point and noted precedent limiting withdrawal from plea agreements.","Hunter's lawyer conceded she is not arguing that appeal waivers are categorically impermissible. That concession narrowed what her side was asking the Court to decide.","Hunter's lawyer asked the Court at least to remand on the second main legal question. Her broader position was that appeal waivers should face ordinary contract defenses. She argued plea agreements are contracts, so contract doctrines can excuse appeal waivers in them."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 1, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 116, lines 37-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 116, lines 37-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 55-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 53-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 53-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 49-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 33-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 33-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 27-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 27-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 47-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 37-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 47-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 47-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 49-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 75, lines 49-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 77, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 81, lines 25-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 88, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 92, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 92, lines 17-25"}]}],"caption":"Hunter v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-28T20:29:00.301458Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-28T20:29:00.324346Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T23:55:35.831694Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-30T01:30:00.595939Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"}],"case_status":"decided","dek":"Munson P. Hunter, III pleaded guilty under a deal that waived his right to appeal his sentence. He says contract law can excuse that waiver when a sentence is clearly wrong. The United States says a valid waiver sticks. The Supreme Court heard argument on March 3, 2026, and has not ruled.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 33-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 33-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 81, lines 25-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2026-03-03T00:00:00Z","maturity":"post_opinion","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/audio/2025/24-1063","official_disposition_urls":["https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1063_diff_5h26.pdf","https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1063new_l5gm.pdf"],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-1063.html","primary_docket":"24-1063","revisions":[{"correction_note":null,"created_at":"2026-08-29T02:23:24.036210Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-29T16:12:59.073592Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2},{"correction_note":"Removed an unsupported statement that the Court had not ruled; the available source set did not establish that absence.","created_at":"2026-08-29T23:48:24.666063Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":3},{"correction_note":"Corrected unsupported no-ruling language and clarified that the article's disposition summary is incomplete.","created_at":"2026-08-30T00:16:28.855594Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":4},{"correction_note":"Added the holding and disposition from the verified official Court opinion.","created_at":"2026-08-30T01:30:00.617991Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":5},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":6}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The case is Hunter v. United States, No. 24-1063. Justice Gorsuch clarified that only waivers of sentencing errors are before the Court. Hunter's lawyer confirmed that point. The disputed sentence component is a supervised-release medication condition."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 33-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 33-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 81, lines 25-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The case reached the Supreme Court after earlier proceedings below. The transcript does not describe those lower-court decisions in detail. Lisa S. Blatt argued for Hunter. Zoe A. Jacoby, an Assistant to the Solicitor General, argued for the United States."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 1-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 1, lines 1-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 47-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 47-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 88, lines 29-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Hunter asks the Court at least to remand on a second legal question about warnings. His broader position is that appeal waivers should face ordinary contract defenses. He says plea agreements are contracts, so contract doctrines can excuse appeal waivers.","Hunter proposes a two-gate test. First, the error must be clear and indisputable. Second, it must be egregious—plainly unauthorized by statute or violating constitutional rights. Examples include sentences based on race, religion, or bodily integrity. He cites Rumery for the idea that enforcing contracts is a primary public policy consideration."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 33-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 33-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 47-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 47-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 81, lines 25-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 88, lines 29-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The United States asks the Court to hold there is no exception allowing Hunter's appeal, rather than remanding. It says knowing and voluntary appeal waivers are enforceable and contract law provides no sentence-based exception.","The government says contract defenses apply in principle but fail here. It argues an open-ended egregious-sentences exception would spur litigation and undermine the benefit of the bargain. It opposes remand, warning of signaling effects and floodgates of litigation. It urges narrow exceptions: race-based sentences, categorically unlawful sentences, and procedures no civilized system would use."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 33-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 33-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 47-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 47-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 81, lines 25-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 88, lines 29-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked whether specific warnings must be given about appeal waivers and what their elements would be. Hunter's lawyer answered that the judge need only advise the defendant he may have a right to appeal and should consult the plea agreement.","Justice Thomas asked why statutory rights cannot be waived contractually. He also asked whether the government could void the plea agreement and proceed with dismissed counts. Justice Alito questioned applying the entire law of contracts to plea agreements. Hunter's lawyer answered that appeal rights can be waived, but plea agreements remain contracts governed by contract principles."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 55-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 47-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 37-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["Millions of criminal cases end in plea deals rather than trials. If waivers always stick, defendants cannot challenge even badly wrong sentences. If contract defenses apply, some waivers can be excused. The government's narrow proposed exceptions show it sees some limits. Hunter's two-gate test would open a broader path."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 33-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 33-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 81, lines 25-49"}]},{"heading":"What the Court decided","paragraphs":["An agreement giving up the right to appeal a sentence cannot be enforced if enforcing it would cause a miscarriage of justice. That means the sentence must contain an egregious, obvious error that would bring the judicial system into disrepute.","The Supreme Court vacated the Fifth Circuit's judgment and remanded the case for it to decide whether Hunter's appeal waiver can be enforced under this standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Opinion","label":"Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 3, lines 1-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1063_diff_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 1-1"},{"evidence_type":"Opinion","label":"Official Supreme Court Opinion — file page 6, lines 1-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-1063_diff_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 1-1"}]}],"slug":"2025-24-1063-hunter-v-united-states","term":"2025","title":"Can a Guilty Plea's Appeal Waiver Block a Challenge to a Clearly Unlawful Sentence?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 33-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 33-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 51-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-1063_5h26.pdf","page_label":"file page 81, lines 25-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":"latest_argument_date","updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}