October Term 2015 · Docket 15-420
Do tribal court convictions count as prior offenses for federal sentencing?
The dispute centers on whether federal courts can use tribal court records to enhance a defendant's sentence.
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
Elizabeth Prelogar argued that Congress enacted the law to address domestic violence in Indian Country.
Mr. Babcock argued that the right to counsel is fundamental and essential in the country.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if convictions in a tribal court count as predicates without the Indian Civil Rights Act.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-42
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal sentencing laws. It asks if tribal court records qualify as prior convictions. The answer shapes how federal judges calculate sentences for defendants with tribal histories.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to allow tribal court records to count as prior offenses.
The defendant wants the Court to bar the use of tribal court records for sentencing enhancements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
What each side says
The government argues that Congress intended to include all prior convictions in sentencing calculations.
The defendant argues that tribal court records lack the procedural safeguards required for federal sentencing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the determination would be case by case.
Justice Kennedy asked if a specific showing could be attempted in this case type.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-42
Why it matters
This issue determines how federal courts treat tribal court records. It affects the length of sentences for defendants with tribal histories. It clarifies the relationship between tribal and federal legal systems.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
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 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 50-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-14 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 26-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 26-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-42
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 24, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 40-18 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 40-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
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.