October Term 2025 · Docket 24-5438
Can the Supreme Court review a federal prisoner's second habeas petition?
The dispute centers on whether the Supreme Court has jurisdiction to hear a second or successive habeas petition from a federal prisoner.
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 side that brought the case's counsel argued that Section 2255(h) incorporates the certification process for second or successive applications.
the side that brought the case's counsel stated that this incorporation prohibits review by petition for writ of certiorari.
The government's counsel argued that Congress passed AEDPA to advance the finality of criminal convictions.
The government's counsel noted that Congress largely eliminated post-conviction applications by federal prisoners.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 29-55 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 29-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 53-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Supreme Court jurisdiction over federal prisoner habeas petitions. the side that brought the case argues the Court lacks power to review the case. The government argues the Court retains authority to decide the matter.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 29-9
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 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-37
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Supreme Court to dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.
The government wants the Supreme Court to exercise jurisdiction and review the petition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 29-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that Section 2255(h) incorporates a certification process that bars Supreme Court review.
The government argues that Congress intended to preserve Supreme Court jurisdiction over these specific petitions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 29-9
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the side that brought the case's argument relies on the Castro decision.
Justice Thomas asked what Congress intended to accomplish by adding subsection (h) to Section 2255.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 29-55 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 29-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 53-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-35
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether federal prisoners can seek Supreme Court review of their second habeas petitions. This affects the finality of criminal convictions and the availability of post-conviction relief.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 29-9
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 15-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 55-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 55-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 29-55 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 29-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 53-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-35
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 102, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 55-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 55-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 29-9
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.