{"argument_date":"2004-04-27T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-04-27T00:00:00Z","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/2003/03-475.pdf","paragraphs":["General Olson argued the case involves separation of powers. He stated the Constitution commits advisory authority to the President's discretion.","Mr. Morrison argued the threshold question is whether the Court of Appeals correctly ruled it lacked jurisdiction. He claimed the sides that brought the case painted a picture of being backed into a corner.","Mr. Orfanedes argued allegations and a memorandum raise significant questions. He suggested outside individuals may have participated in Vice President working groups."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 25-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 25-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 31-33"}]}],"caption":"Cheney v. United States Dist. Court for D. C.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.209263Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.238640Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek to overturn a lower court dismissal. the opposing sides defend the dismissal based on jurisdictional limits.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 25-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 25-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-04-27T00:00:00Z","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/03-475.html","primary_docket":"03-475","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:32:36.794018Z","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 boundary between executive discretion and judicial review. It asks if courts can examine how a Vice President manages internal staff and policy advice."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 25-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 25-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 27, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 31-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Supreme Court to reverse the lower court dismissal. They argue the lower court wrongly found it lacked jurisdiction.","the opposing sides want the Supreme Court to affirm the lower court dismissal. They argue the lower court correctly found it lacked jurisdiction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 25-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 25-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the Constitution commits specific advisory functions to the President's discretion. They claim this separation of powers principle limits judicial oversight.","the opposing sides argue the lower court correctly ruled it lacked jurisdiction. They contend the sides that brought the case failed to establish a valid basis for interlocutory review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 25-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 25-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the Court of Appeals correctly ruled it lacked jurisdiction over the sides that brought the case' attempt to obtain interlocutory review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 31-33"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the scope of judicial power over executive branch internal processes. It determines whether courts can scrutinize how the Vice President organizes staff and policy advice. The outcome clarifies the limits of separation of powers in administrative law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 25-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 25-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-39"}]},{"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/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 31-33"}]}],"slug":"2003-03-475-cheney-v-united-states-dist-court-for-d-c","term":"2003","title":"Can a court review a Vice President's internal staff decisions?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 25-57","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 25-57"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 25-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2003/03-475.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}