October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1224
Can the federal government detain a released prisoner deemed sexually dangerous?
The dispute centers on whether federal law allows the government to hold a person in civil commitment after their criminal sentence ends.
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
General Kagan argued Article I permits the federal civil commitment statute.
Chief Justice Roberts questioned if federal authority persists after criminal justice ends.
Justice Ginsburg asked about the likelihood of detainees staying in federal custody.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- 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 37-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-39
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal power under the Necessary and Proper Clause. It asks if Congress can detain individuals who are no longer under criminal sentence but pose a danger to others.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2010.
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 government seeks to detain Comstock under federal civil commitment laws.
Comstock seeks release from federal custody and transfer to state authorities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
What each side says
The government argues Article I permits Congress to enact limited civil commitment statutes.
Comstock argues federal custody authority ends when the criminal sentence expires.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if federal power ends when the criminal sentence concludes.
Justice Ginsburg asked about the practical experience of transferring detainees to states.
Official sources for this section
- 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 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-39
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary of federal detention power. It determines if the government can hold individuals beyond their criminal sentences. The outcome shapes the balance between public safety and individual liberty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
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 37-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-39
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 27, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
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.