{"argument_date":"2001-11-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2001-11-06T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","paragraphs":["The government argues the defendant received adequate advice about counsel rights. It claims he pleaded guilty with counsel present and after prior warnings.","The defendant argues the court failed to explain counsel's specific role in trial. It claims the court did not link counsel to confronting witnesses.","The government emphasizes the finality of carefully taken guilty pleas. It argues courts should not lightly set aside valid pleas.","The defendant highlights the need for clear explanations of legal rights. It argues vague advice fails to protect defendants' constitutional rights."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Vonn","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.873213Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.893558Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The government argues a defendant waived counsel rights by pleading guilty. The defendant argues the plea lacked proper legal advice.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2001-11-06T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/00-973.html","primary_docket":"00-973","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T17:31:51.963712Z","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 a guilty plea requires specific advice about counsel rights. The government claims the defendant received adequate warnings. The defendant claims the court failed to explain how counsel affects trial rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2001."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the Court to uphold the guilty plea. It argues the defendant knowingly waived counsel rights.","The defendant wants the Court to reverse the guilty plea. It argues the court failed to properly advise him of counsel's role."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government asserts the defendant pleaded guilty with counsel present. It claims he received at least two prior advisories about his right to counsel.","The defendant asserts the court did not explain how counsel affects trial rights. It claims the court failed to link counsel to confronting witnesses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Does a guilty plea require the court to explain how counsel affects specific trial rights?","Did the defendant knowingly waive his right to counsel by pleading guilty?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the minimum advice required for a valid guilty plea. It determines whether courts must explain how counsel affects trial rights. It protects defendants from unknowingly waiving critical legal protections during plea negotiations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}]},{"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 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}]}],"slug":"2001-00-973-united-states-v-vonn","term":"2001","title":"Does a guilty plea waive the right to counsel?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 13-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 13-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/00-973.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 29-33"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}