October Term 2022 · Docket 21-857
Can prisoners use a federal savings clause to challenge convictions after new laws decriminalize their conduct?
the sides that brought the case seek a path to release after laws changed. The government argues existing remedies remain sufficient.
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
the sides that brought the case claim the savings clause provides a necessary remedy when standard options fail.
The government contends the standard remedy remains adequate for testing claims.
Justice Roberts questioned whether the side that brought the case undermines the framework for precluding claims.
Justice Sotomayor asked for a limiting principle to prevent the clause from expanding too far.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-9
- 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 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of a federal savings clause. It asks if prisoners can use this clause when standard motions fail. The dispute centers on access to judicial review after legal changes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 49-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 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 72, lines 7-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-37
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a legal path to challenge their detention after laws change.
The government wants to limit the savings clause to prevent bypassing standard rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 49-31
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the savings clause applies when standard remedies are inadequate.
The government argues the standard remedy remains adequate and effective.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 49-31
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked if actual innocence is the only required standard.
Justice Barrett asked how to handle choice of law problems with circuit precedent changes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-9
Why it matters
Prisoners face indefinite detention if they cannot challenge convictions after laws change. The outcome defines the scope of federal judicial review for criminal sentences. It balances finality of judgments against the need for legal accuracy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 49-31
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 37-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-29 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 7-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 7-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-15
- 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 53-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-37 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-9
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 17-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 49-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-33 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 49-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 49-31
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.