{"argument_date":"2005-10-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-10-05T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","paragraphs":["General Clement argued the federal law bans prescribing drugs for suicide.","Mr. Atkinson argued states can regulate medical practice responsibly.","Justice Souter questioned if the statute authorizes doctors to prescribe lethal drugs.","Justice O'Connor questioned if a new Attorney General could change the rule."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 33-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"}]}],"caption":"Gonzales v. Oregon","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.244311Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.252773Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The federal government argues Oregon's law forces doctors to break federal drug rules. Oregon argues the federal law does not cover this medical practice.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 27-15"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-10-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/04-623.html","primary_docket":"04-623","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:18:49.151512Z","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 dispute centers on the federal Controlled Substances Act. The government claims the law bans prescribing drugs for suicide. Oregon claims the law only regulates drug distribution, not medical practice."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 27-15"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the Court to uphold the federal rule banning the prescriptions.","Oregon wants the Court to strike down the federal rule and keep its law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 27-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the federal law bans using drugs to facilitate suicide.","Oregon argues the federal law does not regulate state medical practice."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 27-15"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if the federal statute specifically authorizes doctors to prescribe lethal drugs.","Justice O'Connor asked if a new Attorney General could change the rule based on personal views."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 33-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between federal drug regulation and state medical authority. It determines whether federal law overrides state decisions on end-of-life care. The outcome shapes the balance of power between federal and state governments."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 27-15"}]},{"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 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 33-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 33-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"}]}],"slug":"2005-04-623-gonzales-v-oregon","term":"2005","title":"Can the federal government ban doctors from prescribing lethal drugs in Oregon?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-623.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 27-15"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}