October Term 2012 · Docket 12-418
Can Congress force state convicts to register after their federal sentence ends?
The dispute centers on whether federal law can compel a person to register as a sex offender after their federal prison term concludes.
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 government advocate stated that convicted sex offenders pose a serious threat to public safety.
The government advocate claimed Congress has authority to impose both criminal and civil sanctions for federal conduct.
The defendant advocate argued the government seeks to reach back after a federal sentence has expired.
The defendant advocate contended this brings a person back into federal control after returning to state authority.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal power over individuals who have completed their federal sentences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the registration mandate for this individual.
The defendant wants the Court to strike down the registration mandate for this individual.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-15
What each side says
The government argues Congress can impose civil sanctions to protect public safety after a federal conviction.
The defendant argues the government cannot reach back to control a person after their federal sentence expires.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-15
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if this power applies to all federal crimes, not just sex offenses.
Justice Sotomayor asked what limits exist on Congress imposing registration requirements for any federal conviction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-37
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between federal and state authority over individuals after incarceration ends.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-15
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 10, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-37
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 25, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-15
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.