October Term 2020 · Docket 20-5904
Does the First Step Act lower crack cocaine penalties?
the side that brought the case seeks retroactive relief. The government opposes this change.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Mr. Adler argued the statute covers the crack offense.
Mr. Mortara argued the statute excludes the crack offense.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the First Step Act. It targets crack cocaine sentencing disparities. The statute changed penalty ranges for these offenses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on May 4, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-49
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants retroactive application of the new penalty ranges.
The government wants to keep the original sentence intact.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute covers the specific crack offense.
The government argues the statute excludes this specific offense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-9
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked about the pre-2010 penalty range.
Justice Alito asked which clause the statute modifies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
Why it matters
The outcome sets the scope of federal sentencing reform. It affects the number of eligible inmates. It defines the reach of the First Step Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-9
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 17-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-55 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 47-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 49-39 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 49-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 55-49 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 55-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 55-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 55-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 43-9 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 43-9
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.