October Term 2001 · Docket 00-853
Does the Prison Litigation Reform Act require exhaustion for excessive force claims?
The dispute centers on whether the Prison Litigation Reform Act mandates exhaustion of administrative remedies for excessive force claims.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Williams argued Congress excluded excessive force cases from the term prison conditions.
General Blumenthal argued the Second Circuit misinterpreted the term contrary to congressional purposes.
Mr. Gornstein argued excessive force claims are actions with respect to prison conditions.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-60 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-60
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the Prison Litigation Reform Act. It asks if the statute covers specific instances of unlawful conduct like excessive force.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-60 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-60
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to reverse the lower court decision.
the opposing sides want the Court to affirm the lower court decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-60 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-60
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue excessive force cases are excluded from the definition of prison conditions.
the opposing sides argue excessive force claims are actions with respect to prison conditions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-60 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-60
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked General Blumenthal to conclude his argument.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-13
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of the Prison Litigation Reform Act. It determines whether prisoners must exhaust administrative remedies before suing for excessive force.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-60 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-60
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 11-13
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-60 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-60
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-60 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-60
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-9
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.