A.B. v. United States

On March 4, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court decided A.B. v. United States. A.B., a federal inmate sentenced in 2018 to 20 years for drug trafficking, sought a sentence reduction under the First Step Act. Although he pleaded guilty, he later maintained his factual innocence. The government denied his motion, arguing that his refusal to fully accept responsibility disqualified him. The Court examined whether the Act requires an explicit admission of guilt. In a 5-4 decision, the Justices held that the text of the First Step Act does not impose such a requirement, focusing instead on rehabilitation and individualized risk assessment. The ruling overturned the lower court’s denial and remanded the case, potentially affecting thousands of inmates who assert innocence while pursuing early release.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the First Step Act does not require an admission of factual guilt, reversed the lower court, and remanded for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.

Whether the First Step Act requires a defendant to admit factual guilt as a prerequisite for obtaining a sentence reduction.

The decision broadened access to sentence reductions for inmates who maintain innocence, reinforcing rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reforms and igniting debate over the balance between accepting responsibility and protecting the right to assert innocence.