October Term 2008 · Docket 08-681
Can courts stay removal orders while appeals proceed?
the sides that brought the case seek stays to remain in the U.S. during appeals. The government argues this practice undermines finality.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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. Harrison cited the 1996 statute authorizing stays.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned the empirical data on stay grants.
Justice Kennedy asked about the percentage of successful government appeals.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, 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 21-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of judicial power to pause removal orders. the sides that brought the case argue stays prevent immediate deportation. The government claims this delays final decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 21, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 11-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want courts to keep stays available during appeals.
The government wants to limit stays to prevent delays.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-31
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue stays protect rights during the appeal process.
The government argues stays undermine the finality of removal orders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-31
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if reopening proceedings differs from vacating orders.
Justice Kennedy asked if generous standards increase petition filings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
Why it matters
This dispute defines the balance between due process and immigration enforcement. It shapes how quickly removal orders become final. It affects the daily operations of federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-31
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
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 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 35-31
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.