October Term 2004 · Docket 04-514
Can a court of appeals withdraw its mandate after the Supreme Court denies review?
The dispute centers on whether a lower court can withdraw its final judgment after the Supreme Court declines to hear the case.
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
Ms. Smith argued the Sixth Circuit exceeded its authority under appellate rules and Supreme Court precedent.
Mr. Shors argued the court of appeals corrected a clear error in its prior decision.
Justice Kennedy asked if the mandate issuance can be extended after certiorari denial.
Justice Souter asked if the court can extend or truncate the time for action.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-3
- 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 17-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of appellate court power. The core issue is whether a court of appeals retains authority to withdraw its mandate after the Supreme Court denies certiorari.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2005.
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 side that brought the case wants the Supreme Court to declare the Sixth Circuit's withdrawal of its mandate invalid.
the opposing side wants the Supreme Court to uphold the Sixth Circuit's power to withdraw its mandate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-3
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Sixth Circuit exceeded its authority under appellate rules and Supreme Court precedent.
the opposing side argues the court of appeals engaged in sua sponte reconsideration to correct a clear error.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-3
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the side that brought the case's argument would nullify the Calderon decision.
Justice Breyer asked why the opposing side does not treat the action as a Rule 41(b) motion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
Why it matters
This case defines the finality of appellate judgments. It determines when a lower court can alter its decision after higher court review ends. The outcome affects the stability of legal proceedings and the authority of appellate courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-3
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 17-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-41
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 29, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-3
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.