{"argument_date":"2003-10-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2003-10-07T00:00:00Z","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/2003/02-628.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Zinn argued sovereign immunity should not bar enforcement.","She noted the district court found ongoing federal law violations.","Mr. Cruz asked if district courts are immune from sovereign immunity.","He stated federal law requires a specific outcome here."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.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/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 23-25"}]}],"caption":"Frew v. Hawkins","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.923889Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.955285Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek to enforce a consent decree. the opposing sides claim sovereign immunity bars that enforcement.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 7-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2003-10-07T00:00:00Z","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/02-628.html","primary_docket":"02-628","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:13:45.560353Z","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 sovereign immunity stops a federal court from enforcing a consent decree."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2003."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 23-25"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the court to enforce the consent decree.","the opposing sides want the court to dismiss the enforcement action."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue sovereign immunity does not bar enforcement here.","the opposing sides argue sovereign immunity protects them from this enforcement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 7-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Does sovereign immunity bar enforcement of this consent decree?","Did the district court waive any immunity objections?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 23-25"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the limits of sovereign immunity in federal courts. It shapes how consent decrees operate in practice. It affects the ability of courts to enforce federal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 7-11"}]},{"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/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 23-25"}]}],"slug":"2003-02-628-frew-v-hawkins","term":"2003","title":"Can sovereign immunity block enforcement of a federal consent decree?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-628.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 7-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}