October Term 2021 · Docket 21-5726
Does Rule 60(b)(1) cover legal errors?
The parties dispute whether a court can fix a legal error under Rule 60(b)(1).
Verified source milestones
- — 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
the side that brought the case argued Rule 60(b)(1) excludes legal errors.
The government argued Rule 60(b)(1) includes legal errors.
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 53-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 47-49
- 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 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Rule 60(b)(1). the side that brought the case argues the rule covers only factual mistakes. The government argues the rule covers all errors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2022.
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 Court to limit Rule 60(b)(1) to factual errors.
The government wants the Court to allow Rule 60(b)(1) to cover legal errors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the word mistake means factual error only.
The government argues the word mistake covers all types of errors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if the plain meaning of mistake fails the side that brought the case.
Justice Barrett asked how to distinguish fact from law errors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-33
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of post-judgment relief. It determines which errors courts can correct. It affects the finality of legal judgments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
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 53-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 43-15
- 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 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-33
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 27, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
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.