October Term 2024 · Docket 23-1324
Does a judge's exhaustion ruling bind a later jury?
Prisoners argue exhaustion is a legal question for judges. States argue it involves facts for juries.
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
Ms. Sherman argued exhaustion is central to the PLRA.
Ms. McGill noted the State changed its position after five years.
Ms. McGill cited early Ninth Circuit decisions on this issue.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- 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 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a judge's exhaustion ruling binds a later jury.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 25, 2025.
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 69, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-21
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a judge to decide exhaustion as a legal question.
the opposing sides want a jury to decide exhaustion as a factual question.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-31
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue exhaustion is a legal issue under the PLRA.
the opposing sides argue exhaustion involves factual findings about retaliation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-31
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked if judges normally make exhaustion determinations.
Justice Jackson asked why a judge's finding does not preclude a jury trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-19
Why it matters
This dispute shapes how courts handle prisoner grievances. It affects the role of judges versus juries. It determines the finality of exhaustion rulings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-31
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 23-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-33
- 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 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 11-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 11-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 55-21 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 55-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-19
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 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 23-31
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.