The Supreme Court announced on Monday that it will hear the case Maxwell v. Thomas in its upcoming term. This case will address how the First Step Act applies to inmates seeking quicker transfers from prison to lower-security confinement, such as halfway houses. The First Step Act, enacted in 2018, allows inmates to earn time credits for participating in recidivism-reduction programs, which can facilitate early release into less secure settings.
William Maxwell, an inmate serving a 20-year sentence for racketeering, initially filed the petition pro se, meaning without legal representation. He later secured a lawyer to file a reply brief, and it is expected that a lawyer will argue on his behalf during the hearing.
The Supreme Court will focus on whether inmates can challenge their earned time credits through a habeas corpus petition, which contests the legality of their detention. The court is anticipated to hear arguments in this case between October 2026 and April 2027.
This decision follows recent rulings by the Supreme Court regarding the First Step Act, including a 6-3 decision in Rutherford v. United States, which determined that changes to mandatory minimum sentences cannot be applied retroactively for compassionate release eligibility. The Supreme Court is expected to conclude its current term later this month and has already accepted 11 cases for the next term starting in October.
