{"argument_date":"2004-03-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-03-03T00:00:00Z","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/2003/03-44.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Dreeben argued the lower court was correct. He stated the statute does not require a federal connection. He emphasized the text of the law.","Mr. Birrell argued the statute is unconstitutional. He claimed it allows conviction without a federal element. He stated the law omits a constitutional requirement.","Chief Justice Rehnquist asked for the basis of the government's claim. He then submitted the case for decision."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 46-2","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 46-2"}]}],"caption":"Sabri v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.519110Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal fraud statutes demand proof that local crimes connect to federal spending.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-36"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-03-03T00:00:00Z","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/03-44.html","primary_docket":"03-44","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:52:00.067316Z","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 federal fraud laws. It asks if prosecutors must prove a direct link between local crimes and federal money."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-36"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 3, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-12"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants to convict based on local conduct alone. It argues the statute text controls the scope.","the side that brought the case wants the statute struck down. It argues the law fails constitutional requirements."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-36"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the statute does not require a federal link. It claims the text defines the offense limits.","the side that brought the case argues the statute is facially unconstitutional. It claims the law omits a required constitutional element."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-36"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked for the basis of the government's position. He then closed the argument."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 46-2","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 46-2"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the reach of federal fraud laws. It determines whether local crimes become federal offenses. It shapes the boundary between state and federal power."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-36"}]},{"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 4-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 4-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 46-2","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 38, lines 46-2"}]}],"slug":"2003-03-44-sabri-v-united-states","term":"2003","title":"Does federal fraud law require a link to federal funds?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 36-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 36-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 14-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-44.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 14-36"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}