{"argument_date":"2002-10-15T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2002-10-15T00:00:00Z","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/2002/01-706.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Stewart stated the Coast Guard administers the Boat Safety Act.","Mr. Shapiro noted Congress specified safety equipment for over 90 years.","Ms. Brueckner argued the maritime argument was waived.","Ms. Brueckner said the opposing sides did not raise the maritime issue earlier."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 25-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 5-9"}]}],"caption":"Sprietsma v. Mercury Marine","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.026539Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.040048Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek to strike down a state noise law. the opposing sides defend the state law against federal preemption claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 25-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-3"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2002-10-15T00:00:00Z","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/01-706.html","primary_docket":"01-706","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:47:49.353985Z","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 federal boat safety standards override state noise regulations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 25-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-3"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 15, 2002."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 5-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the state noise law struck down.","the opposing sides want the state noise law upheld."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 25-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue federal law preempts state noise rules.","the opposing sides argue state law remains valid."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 25-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-3"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Does the Boat Safety Act occupy the field of boat safety?","Did the side that brought the case waive the maritime argument?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 5-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["State noise rules affect boat operators. Federal standards shape national safety. This conflict impacts consumer choice and state authority."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 25-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-3"}]},{"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 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 5-9"}]}],"slug":"2002-01-706-sprietsma-v-mercury-marine","term":"2002","title":"Does federal boat safety law block state noise rules?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 19-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 19-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 25-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 25-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 23-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-706.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 23-3"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}