The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday in Maxwell v. Dinis, a case about whether federal prisoners can use habeas corpus petitions to challenge Bureau of Prisons decisions on First Step Act time credits. William Maxwell, a disbarred Texas lawyer serving 20 years for racketeering, claims prison officials denied him 42 to 48 months of earned credits and wants a transfer to home confinement or a halfway house rather than completing his sentence in prison.
Where
Federal; petitioner incarcerated in Texas
When
Monday, Nov. 3, 2026
Sources
Reported by 2 outlets
Taxes and money
None stated in sources.
Who's involved
William MaxwellDisbarred Texas lawyer serving 20 years for racketeering; petitioner
Masha HansfordMaxwell's attorney
Justice Samuel AlitoSupreme Court Justice
Brian BarnesAppointed to defend lower court's decision
Kevin J. BarberAssistant to the Solicitor General
Jessica LevinsonProfessor at Loyola Law School
The facts
Maxwell was convicted in New Jersey in 2014 of racketeering conspiracy and related offenses.1
Maxwell says Bureau of Prisons failed to account for 42 to 48 months of qualifying time credits.1
Maxwell began seeking to apply credits toward prerelease custody in 2020.1
Maxwell filed a habeas petition in 2022 after being repeatedly denied a transfer.1
Lower courts rejected Maxwell's argument; Fifth Circuit affirmed the dismissal.1
Supreme Court granted Maxwell's petition for certiorari on June 1, 2026.1
Maxwell has the lowest recidivism rating and has met every pre-release requirement except time-credit calculation.1
Maxwell is set for release from prison on Jan. 22, 2027, per federal government.1
Who said what
These are statements and claims made by the people involved. They are reported, not verified.
Masha Hansford Federal law requires Maxwell's release from prison and transfer to home confinement or halfway house.1
Brian Barnes Habeas petition is wrong vehicle; Maxwell seeks change in where he serves sentence, not complete release.1
Kevin J. Barber Maxwell's approaching release could make the whole appeal moot.1
Jessica Levinson Based on oral argument tenor, majority of justices appeared inclined to support Maxwell's appeal.1
Where the sources disagree
Whether Maxwell earned 42 to 48 months of First Step Act time credits Maxwell claims 42 to 48 months denied [1]; Bureau of Prisons disputes this calculation [1]
How they headlined it
The same event, as each outlet put it. Marked words appear in only one outlet's headline.
Supreme Court Hears Maxwell First Step Act Habeas Case
These outlets were found through Google News headlines. Google decides which outlets appear there, and they lean mostly one way, so this sheet can only be as balanced as the reporting it was built from. Leanings are AllSides Media Bias Ratings.
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