Murphy v. Smith

This case was about how much of a prisoner's money award must go toward attorney's fees in a civil rights case under federal law. The Supreme Court said courts must use as much of the judgment as needed, up to 25 percent, instead of picking a lower amount freely.

The case was argued on Dec. 6, 2017, and decided on Feb. 21, 2018. The prompt does not provide the vote count or opinion lineup.

The decision affects prisoners who win civil rights cases and the lawyers who represent them. For example, a larger required share of a damages award may be used to help pay the prisoner's attorney's fees.

The Supreme Court has finished its work in this case. Lower courts must apply the Court's reading of the statute in future cases and in any remaining proceedings here.

The dispute was over the phrase "not to exceed 25 percent" in a federal law on attorney's fees. The Court said judges must use as much as needed, up to that cap.

Prisoners who win civil rights lawsuits and their lawyers are directly affected. More of a damages award may have to go toward paying attorney's fees.

The Supreme Court's docket action is over. Lower courts must now follow this interpretation when applying the same statute in similar cases.