October Term 2017 · Docket 17-5639
Can a district court change a sentence without explaining its reasoning?
The dispute centers on whether a lower court must provide a specific reason when it modifies a criminal 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
the side that brought the case argued that judicial integrity supports the sentence reduction.
The government argued that discretion must be guided by legal principles.
The government stated that appellate review requires a reason in the record.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-43
- 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 13-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case examines the standard for reviewing a district court's decision to reduce a sentence. The core issue is whether the lower court must articulate a reason for its action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
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
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Supreme Court to affirm the lower court's sentence reduction.
The government wants the Supreme Court to reverse the lower court's sentence reduction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that judicial discretion allows a sentence change without a detailed explanation.
The government argues that meaningful appellate review requires a clear reason in the record.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if a within-guidelines sentence can violate the law.
Justice Kennedy asked if a judge must explain a sentence change when guidelines shift.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of judicial discretion in sentencing. It determines how appellate courts review lower court decisions. It affects the consistency of criminal sentencing nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
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 21-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-39
- 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 13-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-9
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 30, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
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.