{"argument_date":"2004-11-30T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-30T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-1293.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Samek argued that Congress enacted the statute solely to increase penalties for money laundering conspiracies.","She contended that Congress did not intend to abandon the overt act requirement for these offenses.","Mr. Marcus asserted that the money laundering conspiracy statute does not require proof of an overt act.","He stated that the text of the statute contains no such requirement as a primary reason."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-41"}]}],"caption":"Whitfield v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.803879Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether prosecutors must prove a specific criminal act occurred to charge a conspiracy under federal money laundering laws.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-13"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-30T00:00:00Z","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/03-1293.html","primary_docket":"03-1293","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:17:31.475617Z","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 examines the legal requirements for prosecuting money laundering conspiracies. The core issue is whether the statute mandates proof of an overt act. the sides that brought the case argue this requirement remains in effect. The government contends the statute does not require such proof."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-13"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to confirm that proving an overt act is mandatory for a money laundering conspiracy conviction.","The government wants the Court to rule that the statute does not require proof of an overt act for such charges."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue that Congress intended to preserve the overt act requirement when enacting the specific penalty provisions.","The government argues that the statutory text contains no explicit requirement for proving an overt act in conspiracy cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-13"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked why the statute lists venue options in the alternative if an overt act were always required.","Justice Scalia asked if the cited provision is the only basis for establishing venue in these cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-41"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the evidentiary burden for federal money laundering conspiracy prosecutions. It clarifies whether prosecutors must demonstrate a specific criminal act. The outcome shapes how courts interpret statutory silence on conspiracy elements. It impacts the scope of federal criminal jurisdiction over financial crimes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-13"}]},{"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/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-41"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1293-whitfield-v-united-states","term":"2004","title":"Does a money laundering conspiracy require proof of an overt act?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1293.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-13"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}