October Term 2009 · Docket 09-5201
When does a federal prisoner's sentence end?
The dispute centers on how to calculate the end date of a federal sentence under the good time statute.
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. Sady argued the phrase term of imprisonment appears three times in the statute.
He stated the first two uses mean the sentence imposed.
Mr. Wall argued the statute language tracks the Bureau's practice.
He noted Justice Breyer described the Bureau's method correctly.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-11
- 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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks how to interpret the phrase term of imprisonment in the federal good time statute. the sides that brought the case argue it means the sentence imposed by the court. the opposing sides argue it means the actual time served. The lower court ruled against the sides that brought the case. The Supreme Court will decide which interpretation applies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 30, 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 sides that brought the case want the Court to hold that the sentence ends on the date of the imposed term.
the opposing sides want the Court to hold that the sentence ends after the full time served.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute uses term of imprisonment to mean the sentence imposed.
the opposing sides argue the statute uses term of imprisonment to mean the actual time served.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the Bureau releases a prisoner on the expiration date.
Justice Scalia asked if the Bureau gives clothes months after release.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-5
Why it matters
This case determines how federal courts calculate release dates for all prisoners. It affects the length of time inmates spend in custody. It shapes the administration of federal sentences nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
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 17-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-11
- 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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-5
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 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-37
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.