October Term 2017 · Docket 17-459
Does a missing hearing date stop the clock on an immigrant's continuous presence?
The dispute centers on whether a notice to appear without a specific hearing date ends an immigrant's period of continuous presence.
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 side that brought the case's advocate stated the stop-time rule specifies exactly what the government must do.
The government's advocate stated the stop-time rule may be triggered by a notice lacking a hearing date.
Justice Kagan questioned why ten requirements define a notice to appear if one is missing.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-17
- 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 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the legal definition of a valid notice to appear. The core issue is whether the absence of a hearing date invalidates the document for stop-time rule purposes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 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 69, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-19
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to hold that a notice without a hearing date does not trigger the stop-time rule.
The government wants the Court to hold that a notice without a hearing date still triggers the stop-time rule.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-15
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the stop-time rule requires a specific hearing date to end continuous presence.
The government argues the stop-time rule triggers upon service of a notice, regardless of a missing hearing date.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-15
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked how the logistical problem of unknown court dates affects the notice's validity.
Justice Alito asked where the definitional language for the notice appears in the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-19
Why it matters
This case determines the precise requirements for ending an immigrant's continuous presence. The outcome affects eligibility for relief based on long-term residence in the United States.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-15
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 35-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-19
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 37, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-17 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-15
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.