No. 25-1381October Term 2025Petition Pending
In Re Stephen Murray, Petitioner
Stephen Murray asks the Supreme Court to review whether a federal court of appeals must hear an appeal from a case dismissed with prejudice when the appeal is claimed to be authorized by federal appellate-jurisdiction statutes.
Case status
- Current stage
- Petition Pending
- Latest event
- Petition pending
- Decision timing
- No decision timeline until the Court agrees to hear the case.
- What it's about
Stephen Murray asks the Supreme Court to review whether a federal court of appeals must hear an appeal from a case dismissed with prejudice when the appeal is claimed to be authorized by federal appellate-jurisdiction statutes. The petition relies on 28 U.S.C. §§ 1291 and 1292(a)(1) and argues that such review is available as a matter of right.
Question presented
1. A Circuit Court of Appeals must consider appeals of dismissals with prejudice taken by right under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1)? 2. A Circuit Court of Appeals must consider appeals of dismissals with prejudice taken under 28 U.S.C. § 1291 and 28 U.S.C. § 1292(a)(1), as "a matter of right" {Heckler v. Edwards, 465 U.S. 870,876 (1984))?
- Case path
Petition pending
- Area
Petition for review pending
Briefing
What it's about
Stephen Murray asked whether a federal appeals court must hear an appeal from a case dismissed with prejudice (closed so it generally cannot be filed again). The Supreme Court dismissed the case without resolving that legal question.
Impact
The issue concerns whether people can obtain appellate review after their federal cases are permanently closed. For example, a litigant whose case was dismissed with prejudice could seek review under the federal statutes Murray cites.
What was at stake in In Re Stephen Murray?
Murray sought review of whether a federal appeals court must hear an appeal after a case is dismissed with prejudice.
Who could be affected by this dispute?
People whose federal cases are permanently closed could be affected if they seek appellate review under the statutes Murray cited.
What happens next in In Re Stephen Murray?
The case was dismissed. No oral argument or Supreme Court decision window is scheduled.
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 3, 2026
- Method
- Methodology