October Term 2024 · Docket 23-1002
Does the First Step Act apply to sentences already imposed?
the sides that brought the case seek retroactive sentence reductions. The government argues the law excludes them.
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. Kimberly argued the law overrides prior harsh rulings.
Ms. Hansford stated the law applies to unimposed sentences.
Mr. Mcginley argued the text excludes the sides that brought the case.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The First Step Act changed federal sentencing rules. the sides that brought the case want these changes applied to their cases. The government says the law only covers future sentences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-53
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 13, 2025.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-37
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want sentence reductions under the new law.
The government wants to keep the original sentences.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-53
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the law applies to their cases.
The government argues the text excludes their cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-53
What the justices asked
Justice Kavanaugh asked why not read the language as written.
Justice Thomas asked about the focus on vacatur imposition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-29
Why it matters
This case determines who receives lower sentences. It affects thousands of federal prisoners. It clarifies the scope of the First Step Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-53
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 53-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-47 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 51-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 51-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 21-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 45-53 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 45-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-17 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 31-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 45-23 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 45-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-29
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 100, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 100, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 100, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 53-53
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.