{"argument_date":"2004-11-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-09T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Miller argued the Contract Disputes Act applies to these contracts.","Mr. Srinivasan argued Congress imposed statutory caps on contract support costs.","questions_and_answers"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"caption":"Cherokee Nation of Okla. v. Thompson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.994534Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.026216Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Tribes seek damages for withheld funds. The government claims statutory limits bar such claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-09T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/02-1472.html","primary_docket":"02-1472","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:20:15.416984Z","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 the Contract Disputes Act applies to tribal self-determination contracts. The outcome affects how tribes recover unpaid costs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The Cherokee Nation wants money damages for unpaid contract support costs.","The government wants to avoid liability for withheld administrative funds."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The Cherokee Nation argues the Contract Disputes Act covers these contracts.","The government argues statutory caps limit the Secretary's payment obligations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked how the two circuit decisions relate.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the Secretary lacks authority to reserve funds."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether tribes can recover withheld contract support costs. It defines the scope of federal liability under self-determination statutes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-43"}]},{"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 10, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"slug":"2004-02-1472-cherokee-nation-of-okla-v-thompson","term":"2004","title":"Can tribes sue for unpaid contract support costs?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/02-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 25-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}