October Term 2007 · Docket 06-11429
Does a state misdemeanor count as a federal felony if it carries a one-year sentence?
The dispute centers on whether a state crime is a federal felony based on its label or its maximum prison term.
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. Fisher argued the state label determines the federal classification.
Ms. Saharsky argued the maximum prison term determines the federal classification.
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 10, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests how federal law defines a felony drug offense. The definition hinges on the maximum possible prison sentence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 24, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the state offense treated as a misdemeanor.
The government wants the state offense treated as a felony.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state label controls the federal classification.
The government argues the maximum prison term controls the federal classification.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked how the state offense compares to a felony.
Justice Kennedy asked if this interpretation is time-honored since Granderson.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
Why it matters
This definition determines federal sentencing enhancements for drug crimes. It affects how courts classify state offenses. It impacts the length of federal prison terms.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
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 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
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 26, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
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.