October Term 2010 · Docket 09-10245
Does a binding plea agreement make a sentence based on the agreement?
Freeman argues his sentence rests on a plea deal. The government says it rests on sentencing guidelines.
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
Heft argued the sentence relied on a lowered guideline.
Gannon argued the sentence relied on the binding plea deal.
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 27, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- 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 35-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Freeman seeks retroactive relief for a lowered crack guideline. The government opposes this claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2011.
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
Freeman wants the court to grant retroactive relief.
The government wants the court to deny retroactive relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
What each side says
Freft argues the sentence rests on the plea agreement.
The government argues the sentence rests on the guidelines.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
What the justices asked
Roberts asked if the judgment relies on all statutory factors.
Alito asked which factor is more fundamental to the sentence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
Why it matters
This case defines the source of a criminal sentence. It determines eligibility for retroactive guideline changes. It affects thousands of defendants with binding plea deals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
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 35-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-23
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 25-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-33
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.