{"argument_date":"2002-11-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2002-11-13T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","paragraphs":["Richard Blumenthal argued for the state. He stated Connecticut seeks access to truthful public records. He emphasized the importance of public safety information.","Ms. Sadin argued for the offender. She claimed the public views listed individuals as serious threats. She highlighted the specific danger to children.","Chief Justice Rehnquist questioned the advocate's factual claim. He asked if the public truly perceives every listed person as a threat."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 45-49"}]}],"caption":"Connecticut Dept. of Public Safety v. Doe","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.935314Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Connecticut officials want to keep sex offender data public. The offender argues this practice harms his reputation and privacy.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2002-11-13T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/01-1231.html","primary_docket":"01-1231","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:41:05.935529Z","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 the balance between public safety and individual privacy. Connecticut maintains a public list of convicted sex offenders. The state claims this protects the community. The offender argues the list causes lasting harm."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 13, 2002."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Connecticut wants to keep the offender's name and details on the public list.","The offender wants the Court to remove his information from the public list."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Connecticut argues the public has a right to access truthful records about convicted sex offenders.","The offender argues the list poses a serious threat to his personal safety and reputation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the public truly views every listed person as a serious threat."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 45-49"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of public access to criminal records. It determines how states balance community safety against individual privacy rights. The outcome shapes how Megan's Law operates nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"}]},{"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 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 45-49"}]}],"slug":"2002-01-1231-connecticut-dept-of-public-safety-v-doe","term":"2002","title":"Does Connecticut's Megan's Law list violate a convicted offender's privacy rights?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-1231.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-3"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}