{"argument_date":"2005-03-02T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-03-02T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-1500.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Chemerinsky argued the monument conveys a theistic message.","Mr. Clement argued the text serves as a legal code.","Justice Scalia questioned the consistency of the religious argument."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]}],"caption":"Van Orden v. Perry","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.636189Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.659835Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A man challenges a Texas monument. The state defends its placement.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-03-02T00:00:00Z","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/03-1500.html","primary_docket":"03-1500","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:11:56.225353Z","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 a state can display a religious text on public land. The dispute centers on the meaning of the monument."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 2, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The man wants the monument removed from public land.","The state wants the monument to remain in place."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The man argues the display sends a religious message.","The state argues the display has secular legal history."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked about similar displays in courtrooms.","Justice Breyer asked how religious content affects the vote."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of state religious displays. It shapes how governments use public property for symbols."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-17"}]},{"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 39-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-9"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1500-van-orden-v-perry","term":"2004","title":"Can Texas display the Ten Commandments on its Capitol grounds?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 27-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1500.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 25-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}