{"argument_date":"2004-11-02T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-02T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-636.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Grunder argued the Turner standard applies to prison rights.","She stated California is a hub for race-based gangs.","Mr. Clement argued all race-based policies need strict scrutiny.","Mr. Deixler highlighted the long history of this practice."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-37"}]}],"caption":"Johnson v. California","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.949006Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Prisoners challenge California's policy of separating inmates by race.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-02T00:00:00Z","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/03-636.html","primary_docket":"03-636","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:27:32.021818Z","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":["California separates prisoners by race to prevent violence. the sides that brought the case argue this violates the Equal Protection Clause. The state claims this policy is necessary for safety."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to apply strict scrutiny to the policy.","California wants the Court to uphold the policy under a deferential standard."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue all race-based government policies face strict scrutiny.","California argues prison safety needs justify the racial classification."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if other states face similar racial violence.","Justice Ginsburg asked if specific violence incidents led to the policy."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-37"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how courts review race-based prison policies. It determines the level of judicial scrutiny for such actions. The outcome shapes prison management and constitutional rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"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 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-37"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-636-johnson-v-california","term":"2004","title":"Does prison racial segregation require strict scrutiny?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-636.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}