October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1650
Can courts weigh new facts when reducing sentences under the First Step Act?
the sides that brought the case seek to consider new evidence. The government argues courts must ignore it.
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. McCloud argued the First Circuit ruling conflicts with the law's text.
Mr. Guarnieri stated the Act authorizes a limited reduction proceeding.
Justice Gorsuch questioned the basis for finding an abuse of discretion.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if courts can refuse to exercise discretion.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-31
- 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 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The First Step Act allows sentence reductions. Courts disagree on what evidence they may review.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 19, 2022.
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 88, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 25-27
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want courts to weigh new facts and law.
The government wants courts to limit review to old records.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-23
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute text allows broad discretion.
The government argues the statute mandates a narrow scope.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-23
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if the discretionary argument is stronger.
Justice Breyer asked how courts would apply this discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-25
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal sentencing discretion. It determines whether judges can consider a prisoner's current behavior. It affects how courts apply the First Step Act. It shapes the balance between statutory text and judicial judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-23
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 45-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-27 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 33-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 55-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 55-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 43-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 43-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-25
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 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-23
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.