October Term 2023 · Docket 22-585
Which due process standard governs civil forfeiture hearings?
the sides that brought the case seek the Mathews standard for process. the opposing sides argue Barker controls the timeline.
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 Mathews is the correct default standard.
the opposing sides cite historical statutes to support their position.
Justices questioned the purpose of post-seizure hearings.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-19
- 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 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 29-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests which legal standard judges use to review civil forfeiture process.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 29-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 30, 2023.
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 68, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-25
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want courts to apply the Mathews standard.
the opposing sides want courts to apply the Barker standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 29-51
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Mathews is the default civil due process standard.
the opposing sides argue history and precedent support the Barker standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 29-51
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if summary judgment resolves custody issues.
Justice Thomas asked if early summary judgment would change the outcome.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-1
Why it matters
The choice of standard dictates how quickly courts must resolve property claims. This affects how long owners wait for their property. It shapes the balance between government power and private rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 29-51
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 29-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 13-19
- 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 23-35 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 47-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 47-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-1
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 106, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 106, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 106, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-9 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 91, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 91, lines 29-51
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.