Lockhart v. United States (2005)

Lockhart v. United States
Argued November 2, 2005
Decided December 7, 2005
Full case nameJames Lockhart v. United States
Citations546 U.S. 142 (more)
126 S. Ct. 699; 163 L. Ed. 2d 557
Case history
Prior376 F.3d 1027 (9th Cir. 2004); cert. granted, 544 U.S. 998 (2005).
Holding
The government can offset Social Security benefits to collect on student loan debt that is over 10 years old.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John Roberts
Associate Justices
John P. Stevens · Sandra Day O'Connor
Antonin Scalia · Anthony Kennedy
David Souter · Clarence Thomas
Ruth Bader Ginsburg · Stephen Breyer
Case opinions
MajorityO'Connor, joined by unanimous
ConcurrenceScalia

Lockhart v. United States, 546 U.S. 142 (2005), is a United States Supreme Court decision concerning whether the United States government can offset Social Security benefits to collect on student loan debt over 10 years old. In a unanimous decision, the Court affirmed the lower court's decision that allowed the offset by the government.