October Term 2017 · Docket 17-312
Can a defendant appeal a trial court's order to wear shackles before the final verdict?
The dispute centers on whether federal appellate courts have the legal power to review a trial judge's decision to restrain a defendant during pretrial proceedings.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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's advocate stated that the Ninth Circuit lacked statutory and constitutional authority to review the order.
The government's advocate argued that the relevant statute applies only to final district court decisions.
The defendant's advocate stated that appellate courts have authority to review these actions under the collateral-order doctrine.
The defendant's advocate argued that extraordinary writs also provide a path for immediate review.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of appellate jurisdiction. The core issue is whether a defendant can challenge a trial court's use of physical restraints before the case concludes. The government argues that such orders are not final and thus cannot be appealed immediately. The defendant argues that these orders cause immediate, irreparable harm and must be reviewable now.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 26, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-11
What each side wants
The government wants the Supreme Court to confirm that appellate courts lack the power to review pretrial shackling orders until the case ends.
The defendant wants the Supreme Court to confirm that appellate courts have the power to review pretrial shackling orders immediately.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-23
What each side says
The government argues that the statute granting appellate jurisdiction only covers final district court decisions, and no other law authorizes review of these specific orders.
The defendant argues that the collateral-order doctrine or extraordinary writs provide the necessary legal authority for appellate courts to review these immediate restraints.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-23
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked how a defendant raises the issue if there is no prejudice to the final outcome.
Justice Kennedy asked what difference shackling makes to the outcome if the defendant is already convicted on other points.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-45
Why it matters
This case defines the boundaries of federal appellate power. It determines whether defendants can seek immediate relief from physical restraints. The outcome shapes the balance between judicial efficiency and individual liberty during pretrial proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-23
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 13-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-45
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 33, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-23
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.