{"argument_date":"2006-04-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-04-18T00:00:00Z","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/2005/05-352.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Dreeben argued the Sixth Amendment secures a fair trial through adversary procedures.","Mr. Fisher argued removing chosen counsel violates the Sixth Amendment immediately.","Justice Scalia asked when the Court first required the state to provide counsel.","Justice Stevens asked why the choice of counsel does not protect autonomy."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 1-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-54"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.408922Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.426299Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A defendant fired his chosen lawyer. He wants a new trial. The government says the error did not harm him.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 31-33"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-04-18T00:00:00Z","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/05-352.html","primary_docket":"05-352","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:56:40.307609Z","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 when a court must restart a trial after removing a defendant's chosen lawyer."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 31-33"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The defendant wants a new trial because he lost his chosen lawyer.","The government wants to keep the verdict because the error did not change the outcome."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 31-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The defendant argues the Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to a specific chosen lawyer.","The government argues the Sixth Amendment only guarantees a fair trial, not a specific lawyer."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 31-33"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if a client directs the defense strategy.","Chief Justice Roberts asked how a client chooses between two different defense strategies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 1-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-54"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of the right to choose a lawyer. It affects every criminal defendant who fires or loses their chosen attorney."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 31-33"}]},{"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 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 1-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 1-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 1-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-54"}]}],"slug":"2005-05-352-united-states-v-gonzalez-lopez","term":"2005","title":"Does firing a chosen lawyer require a new trial?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-352.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 31-33"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}