{"argument_date":"2004-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-10-13T00:00:00Z","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/2004/03-878.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Mills argued the statute is not a detention law.","Mr. Kneedler argued the government must protect its borders.","Ms. Dahl argued the same words mean the same thing."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 7-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 7-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 15-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-60"}]}],"caption":"Clark v. Martinez","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.092307Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:30.113861Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The government claims it can hold inadmissible aliens forever. the sides that brought the case argue this violates due process.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 7-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 7-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 15-13"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-10-13T00:00:00Z","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/03-878.html","primary_docket":"03-878","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:28:38.682134Z","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 government seeks to detain inadmissible aliens indefinitely. the sides that brought the case want release from detention."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 7-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 7-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants to keep detaining inadmissible aliens.","the sides that brought the case want the court to order their release."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 7-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 7-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues it has fundamental power to exclude aliens.","the sides that brought the case argue the statute does not permit indefinite detention."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 7-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 7-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 15-13"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked how the rule applies to border crossers.","Justice Stevens asked if the statute draws that distinction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-60"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of government detention power. It determines how long the state can hold people. It impacts due process rights for non-citizens."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 7-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 7-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 15-13"}]},{"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 10, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-60","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-60"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-878-clark-v-martinez","term":"2004","title":"Can the government detain inadmissible aliens indefinitely?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 7-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 7-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 15-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-878.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 15-13"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}