{"argument_date":"2000-12-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2000-12-05T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2000","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case emphasize the vital interest in excluding unwanted intruders from private activities.","the opposing sides assert that the First Amendment protects the publication of the intercepted conversation.","The Court examines whether the source of the information changes the constitutional analysis."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 11-13"}]}],"caption":"Bartnicki v. Vopper","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:33.662047Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:33.693652Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek damages for the broadcast of their private conversation. the opposing sides claim the First Amendment shields their publication of that information.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 11-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2000-12-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2000","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/99-1687.html","primary_docket":"99-1687","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T18:16:16.215248Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["This case tests whether the First Amendment protects the publication of private conversations intercepted by a third party without the speakers' consent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 11-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 5, 2000."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want a damages award for the broadcast of their private conversation.","the opposing sides want dismissal of the suit based on First Amendment protection."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 11-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the law must protect individuals from unwanted intrusions into private activities.","the opposing sides argue the First Amendment protects the publication of information of public concern."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 11-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Does the First Amendment bar liability for publishing illegally intercepted private conversations?","Does the source of the information affect the publisher's constitutional protection?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 11-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the boundary between privacy rights and free speech. It determines whether publishers face liability for broadcasting private conversations. This affects how media organizations report sensitive information. It shapes the legal risk for publishing intercepted communications."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 11-9"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 11-13"}]}],"slug":"2000-99-1687-bartnicki-v-vopper","term":"2000","title":"Does the First Amendment protect the publication of illegally intercepted private conversations?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2000/99-1687.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 11-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}