{"argument_date":"2003-12-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2003-12-10T00:00:00Z","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/2003/02-6320.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Dreeben stated the side that brought the case received full Miranda warnings. He claimed the side that brought the case knowingly waived his right to counsel. He argued this waiver occurred after transport to the jailhouse.","Mr. Dreeben noted the defendant spoke little about the charges. He said the defendant mentioned business and personal problems. He stated the defendant was a methamphetamine user.","Mr. Waxman distinguished this case from previous arguments. He implied the legal issues differ from those heard the day before. He focused on the specific how the case got here of this case."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 33-35"}]}],"caption":"Fellers v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.814802Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.827830Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a valid waiver of counsel rights fixes an earlier constitutional breach.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 19-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2003-12-10T00:00:00Z","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/02-6320.html","primary_docket":"02-6320","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:02:24.301536Z","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 interaction between the Sixth and Fifth Amendments. The core conflict involves the timing of legal protections during police questioning."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 10, 2003."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 33-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to declare the prior questioning unconstitutional. This would restore the lower court's reversal of the conviction.","The government wants the Court to find the Miranda waiver valid. This would uphold the conviction against the constitutional challenge."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the Sixth Amendment right to counsel attaches before the Fifth Amendment waiver. This makes the initial questioning inherently invalid.","The government argues the Fifth Amendment waiver cures the prior defect. This renders the initial questioning legally permissible."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the case was submitted. This question closed the oral argument session."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 33-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This ruling defines the boundary between two fundamental constitutional rights. It determines when police questioning violates the law. It shapes how courts evaluate evidence obtained during interrogations. It impacts the rights of all criminal defendants."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 19-43"}]},{"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 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 33-35"}]}],"slug":"2003-02-6320-fellers-v-united-states","term":"2003","title":"Does a Miranda waiver cure a prior Sixth Amendment violation?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 11-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/02-6320.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 19-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}