October Term 2008 · Docket 06-11206
Does failure to report count as a violent felony?
The dispute centers on whether a failure-to-report escape statute qualifies as a violent felony under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
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
the side that brought the case argued failure to report presents no serious risk of injury.
The government argued the risk matches the danger of burglary.
Justice Kennedy questioned whether the general nature of the crime controls the analysis.
Justice Kennedy asked if the frequency of violent escapes changes the legal outcome.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- 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 17-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- 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 21-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the ACCA's residual clause. It asks if a crime that does not involve direct physical force still fits the definition of a violent felony. The Court must determine how to assess the risk of harm for such offenses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 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 Court to hold that failure to report is not a violent felony.
The government wants the Court to hold that failure to report is a violent felony.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the crime lacks serious potential risk of injury to others.
The government argues the crime creates a risk comparable to burglary.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the Court looks to the general nature of the crime for violence.
Justice Kennedy asked if the proportion of violent escapes affects the decision.
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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- 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 21-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary of violent felony classifications. It determines which non-physical crimes trigger enhanced federal sentences. The outcome shapes sentencing consistency for career offenders nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- 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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- 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 21-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
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 20, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
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.