October Term 2025 · Docket 24-482
Does the Ex Post Facto Clause bar retroactive restitution orders?
The dispute centers on whether criminal restitution constitutes punishment or civil compensation.
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. Saharia argued the MVRA classifies restitution as criminal punishment.
Ms. Saharia stated restitution is part of the criminal sentence.
Mr. Bash argued the statute's label matters less than its operations.
Justice Kavanaugh questioned if Congress could simply label the statute civil.
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 35-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 45-15
- 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 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-55 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if the Ex Post Facto Clause applies to restitution orders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 14, 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 74, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 53-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks dismissal of the restitution order.
Government seeks enforcement of the restitution order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues restitution is criminal punishment.
Government argues restitution is civil compensation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if victim enforcement negates the penal nature.
Justice Jackson asked if the MVRA's absence at the time of the crime matters.
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 35-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-55 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
Why it matters
The ruling determines if victims can recover losses from pre-enactment crimes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
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 37-47 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-13
- 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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-55 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 53-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 53-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-7
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 20, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 35-51
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.