No. 25-5930October Term 2026Argument ScheduledUpdated Sep 2, 2026
Maxwell v. Sandra Dinis, Acting Warden
Case status
Where it stands
Oral argument November 2, 2026
- Next
- Decision expected by late June 2027
What it's about
William Maxwell, a federal prisoner, challenges the Bureau of Prisons’ calculation of earned time credits under the First Step Act, which he says could make him eligible for earlier transfer to a halfway house or home confinement. The Court will decide whether he may bring that challenge through a federal habeas corpus petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2241.
Question presented
1. The question for this Court is whether disputes regarding the calculation of an inmate's earned First Step Act time credits, enabling the inmate to transfer into halfway house or home confinement earlier, similar to parole, are actionable under 28 U.S.C. §2241? 2. The question for this Court is whether, given all the obstruction of the administrative remedy process that took place in this case, under Perttu v. Richards, exhaustion of administrative remedies is interwoven into the underlying claims themselves, creating a fact issue for a jury, and whether the trial court must make that determination in the first instance? 3. WHETHER A CLAIM REGARDING APPLICATION OF TIME CREDITS UNDER THE FIRST STEP ACT OF 2018, 132 STAT. 5195–5208 (CODIFIED IN RELEVANT PART AT 18 U. S. C. §§3631–3635), SEEKING ACCELERATED TRANSFER TO A HALFWAY HOUSE OR HOME CONFINEMENT, CAN BE BROUGHT IN A HABEAS PETITION UNDER 28 U. S. C. §2241?
What happens next
Expected by late June 2027
Argument is on the calendar for November 2, 2026. Decisions typically follow within about 98 days of argument. Nearly all opinions are released before the term ends in late June or early July 2027.
Why it matters
The case could determine how federal inmates challenge time-credit calculations that may affect when they can leave prison for a halfway house or home confinement. For example, an inmate who believes earned credits were miscalculated could gain or lose a path to earlier community placement.
The dispute concerns how courts review the federal government's application of First Step Act credits for people seeking earlier transfer to community-based custody.
Case file
- Docket
- 25-5930
- Status
- Argument Scheduled
- Argument
- From
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
- Issue
- Documents
- 2
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AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Brief added: Petition
Brief added: Questions Presented
More questions
- What is at stake in Maxwell v. Dinis?
- The Court will consider whether an inmate may use a Section 2241 habeas petition to challenge First Step Act credit calculations.
- How could Maxwell v. Dinis affect federal inmates?
- It could affect whether inmates can ask federal courts to review credit calculations tied to earlier halfway-house or home-confinement placement.
- When is oral argument in Maxwell v. Dinis?
- Oral argument is scheduled for November 2, 2026, with a decision potentially following later in the same term.
Sources
Primary materials plus reporting. Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.