{"argument_date":"2004-11-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-01T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-814.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Blatt argued the side that brought the case worked primarily on the Super Scoop.","Mr. Connelly cited Chandris and Harbor Tug regarding employee separation.","Mr. Kaplan focused on the Shipping Act and its 1916 enactment.","Justice Kennedy asked about the intent component of the proposed test."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 43-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-7"}]}],"caption":"Stewart v. Dutra Constr. Co.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.889926Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.933120Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a stationary vessel qualifies as a ship under the Jones Act.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 25-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-01T00:00:00Z","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/03-814.html","primary_docket":"03-814","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:28:22.547383Z","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":["The case tests the legal definition of a ship. the side that brought the case seeks coverage under the Jones Act. the opposing side argues the vessel does not meet the statutory definition."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 25-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 43-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to classify the vessel as a ship.","the opposing side wants the Court to deny Jones Act coverage."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 25-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the vessel meets the statutory definition of a ship.","the opposing side argues the vessel fails the statutory definition of a ship."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 25-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked about gambling boats parked on the Mississippi River.","Justice Scalia asked whether the Court should use section 3 as the definition."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines which workers receive Jones Act protections. It clarifies the legal status of stationary vessels. It impacts maritime labor law standards."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 25-37"}]},{"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 19, lines 43-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 43-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-7"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-814-stewart-v-dutra-constr-co","term":"2004","title":"Does a stationary vessel qualify as a ship under the Jones Act?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 11-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 11-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-814.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 25-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}