{"argument_date":"2004-01-14T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-01-14T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2003","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","paragraphs":["The Tribe asserts the Clean Water Act requires permits for pollutant additions.","The District contends its pumps only move water between locations.","The United States supports the District's position on water control facilities."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-1"}]}],"caption":"South Fla. Water Management Dist. v. Miccosukee Tribe","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.589091Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.625377Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The Miccosukee Tribe argues the Clean Water Act mandates permits for water movement. The Water Management District claims simple water transfer needs no permit.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-01-14T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2003","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/02-626.html","primary_docket":"02-626","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:59:53.962326Z","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 scope of the Clean Water Act. It asks if moving water counts as adding pollutants. The outcome defines federal regulatory reach over water infrastructure."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The Tribe seeks a mandatory federal permit for water movement.","The District seeks a ruling that simple water transfer needs no permit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The Tribe argues moving water constitutes adding pollutants to navigable waters.","The District argues pumps merely relocate water without adding pollutants."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Does the Clean Water Act define water movement as a pollutant addition?","Do water control facilities require section 402 permits under federal law?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-1"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines federal authority over water management. It determines if states must obtain permits for basic water infrastructure. The result shapes environmental regulation standards nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"}]},{"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 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 45-1"}]}],"slug":"2003-02-626-south-fla-water-management-dist-v-miccosukee-tribe","term":"2003","title":"Does moving water via pumps require a federal permit?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 45-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 45-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 49-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 49-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 3-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 3-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}