October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1739
Can prisons ban books for dangerous inmates?
Prisoners claim a book ban violates free speech. The state says safety requires the rule.
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. Rovelli argued the policy targets dangerous inmates.
Mr. Marcus argued the ban does not violate rights.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- 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 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Pennsylvania bans books for its most dangerous inmates. Prisoners say this violates their First Amendment rights. The state argues the ban improves behavior and safety.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 27, 2006.
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 the book ban struck down.
The state wants the book ban upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
What each side says
Prisoners argue the ban violates free speech rights.
The state argues the ban is a safety measure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked how long inmates stay in this unit.
Justice Kennedy asked if any inmate stayed for two years.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
Why it matters
This case defines prison speech limits. It balances inmate rights against facility safety. The outcome shapes future prison policies nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
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 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-23
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 17, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
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.