October Term 2006 · Docket 06-5306
Can a district court extend the 14-day appeal deadline?
The dispute centers on whether a late appeal filing is invalid because the deadline is strict.
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. Mancino argued the side that brought the case followed the district court's specific order.
Mr. Stewart argued the deadline is jurisdictional and cannot be waived.
Justice Kennedy noted the rule includes equitable conditions and time limits.
Chief Justice Roberts emphasized the drafters wanted a safety valve with limits.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if a specific time limit for appeals is a rigid rule or a flexible guideline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 23-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 26, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Russell wants the late appeal dismissed because the deadline is strict.
Bowles wants the late appeal accepted because the judge allowed it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 23-3
What each side says
Russell argues the 14-day limit is mandatory and courts cannot change it.
Bowles argues the judge’s order created a valid 30-day window.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 23-3
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if courts can accept late filings without objections.
Chief Justice Roberts asked why the appellant waited until the end of the period.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
Why it matters
This case defines whether judges can extend strict appeal deadlines. It affects every person who appeals a civil judgment. It determines if a missed deadline ends a case immediately. It shapes how courts manage their own schedules. It impacts the finality of lower court decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 23-3
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 10, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
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 41-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 23-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 23-3 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 23-3
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.