October Term 2004 · Docket 03-287
Can prisoners sue for lost good-time credits without proving they will be released earlier?
Prisoners seek damages for lost good-time credits. The state argues this claim requires proof of actual release.
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. Cole argues the claims are not about prison conditions.
Mr. Lewis argues the Heck rule applies straightforwardly.
Justice Scalia questions if a habeas action fits this claim.
Justice Souter notes the lack of a clear durational consequence.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Prisoners lost good-time credits due to a procedural error. They sue for damages. The state says they must prove the error caused a longer stay.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 15-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2004.
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
Prisoners want damages for lost credits.
The state wants dismissal of the suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 15-15
What each side says
Prisoners argue the loss of credits is a direct injury.
The state argues no injury exists without proof of delayed release.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 15-15
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asks if this claim fits habeas corpus.
Justice Souter questions if the durational consequence is clear.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-11
Why it matters
This case defines when prisoners can sue for lost credits. It sets the standard for proving injury in prison litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 15-15
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 4, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-11
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 25, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 15-15
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.