Supreme Court weighs Habeas petition for early federal release

The Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday in its seventh case involving the First Step Act, focusing on whether an inmate can use a habeas petition to accelerate transfer to a halfway house or supervised home confinement. William Maxwell, a Texas inmate serving a 20-year sentence for racketeering conspiracy, argued that the Bureau of Prisons failed to account for qualifying activities, denying him between 42 and 48 months of time credits.

Maxwell’s attorney, Masha Hansford, contended that her client met all requirements for pre-release custody and that a habeas petition is the proper legal mechanism to challenge the denial of his time credits. The government’s appointed lawyer, Brian Barnes, argued that because Maxwell sought a change in custody location rather than full release, a habeas petition was not the appropriate vehicle, warning that a ruling in Maxwell’s favor could open the door to new appeals from other inmates.

Legal experts noted that the justices appeared inclined to support Maxwell’s appeal during oral arguments, though the final ruling could be written narrowly. The federal government has indicated that Maxwell may be eligible for transfer to a halfway house on January 22, 2027, prompting both sides to urge the court to decide the case before that date.

Read the full story at Spectrum News.