October Term 2021 · Docket 20-5279
Do crimes in one episode count as separate occasions?
The dispute centers on whether the Armed Career Criminal Act treats crimes in a single episode as separate occasions.
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
Kedem argued the statute excludes crimes in a single criminal episode.
Ross argued the government rule follows the statutory text faithfully.
Kedem claimed the essential elements test differs from current appellate practice.
Ross conceded the point about the test's description in the brief.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 47-9
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests how courts count prior crimes for enhanced sentencing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 4, 2021.
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 79, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 13-15
What each side wants
Wooden wants the Court to reject counting crimes from one episode as separate occasions.
The United States wants the Court to allow counting crimes from one episode as separate occasions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-11
What each side says
Wooden argues the statute excludes crimes committed in a single criminal episode.
The United States argues crimes count as separate when their essential conduct elements differ.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-11
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan questioned the clarity of the totality of the circumstances test.
Justice Alito asked why specific days count as the same episode and opportunity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-21
Why it matters
The outcome defines how judges count prior crimes for mandatory minimum sentences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-11
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 31-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-27 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-9
- 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 33-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-21
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 37, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 27-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-11
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.