Skip to main content

No. 23-1324October Term 2024Decided Jun 18, 2025

Docket 23-1324October Term 2024 (2024–2025)

Thomas Perttu, Petitioner v. Kyle Brandon Richards

The Supreme Court held that prisoners are entitled to a jury trial on the issue of exhausting administrative remedies under the Prison Litigation Reform Act when factual disputes about exhaustion are intertwined with the merits of a claim protected by the Seventh Amendment.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 18, 2025
Case Accepted
Arguments HeardFeb 25, 2025
Decision ReleasedJun 18, 2025
What it's about

The Supreme Court held that prisoners are entitled to a jury trial on the issue of exhausting administrative remedies under the Prison Litigation Reform Act when factual disputes about exhaustion are intertwined with the merits of a claim protected by the Seventh Amendment. The case arose after an inmate alleged that prison officials prevented him from filing grievances regarding sexual abuse and retaliation.

Question presented

In cases subject to the Prison Litigation Reform Act, do prisoners have a right to a jury trial concerning their exhaustion of administrative remedies where disputed facts regarding exhaustion are intertwined with the underlying merits of their claim?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit / Decision released Jun 18, 2025

Area

Decided Supreme Court case