{"argument_date":"2005-01-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-01-10T00:00:00Z","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/2004/128orig.pdf","paragraphs":["Alaska's counsel argued the statehood act is insufficient. He cited the Idaho case principles. He emphasized the need for explicit ratification.","The United States counsel argued for federal retention. He referenced the Glacier Bay context. He disputed the adequacy of Alaska's showing.","Justices questioned the clarity of congressional intent. They probed the relationship between park status and land title. They examined the specific statutory language."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-11"}]}],"caption":"Alaska v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.671650Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.698717Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Alaska claims title to submerged lands in Glacier Bay. The United States argues it retained those lands.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-33"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-01-10T00:00:00Z","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/128%20ORIG..html","primary_docket":"128 ORIG.","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:02:03.596315Z","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 state ownership of underwater lands. The dispute centers on Glacier Bay National Park. Alaska seeks title to these submerged areas. The federal government asserts it kept them."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-33"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Alaska wants title to the submerged lands in Glacier Bay.","The United States wants to retain title to those submerged lands."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Alaska argues the statehood act lacks explicit retention language.","The United States argues Congress intended to keep the lands."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-33"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked about the narrow main clause.","Justice O'Connor asked about congressional notice of inclusion."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines state ownership of underwater resources. It clarifies federal retention of park lands. It impacts coastal state sovereignty. It affects management of navigable waters."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-33"}]},{"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 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-11"}]}],"slug":"2004-128-orig-alaska-v-united-states","term":"2004","title":"Does Alaska own the submerged lands in Glacier Bay?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 27-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 27-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 35-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/128orig.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 35-33"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}