{"argument_date":"2006-04-25T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-04-25T00:00:00Z","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/2005/05-7053.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Jett argued the government must disprove duress beyond a reasonable doubt.","Mr. Gornstein argued the defendant must prove duress because it is an affirmative defense.","Justice Souter questioned whether the defendant freely chooses to commit the crime.","Justice Souter asked what the added element of the defense is."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-37"}]}],"caption":"Dixon v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.485711Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on which party bears the burden of proof for the duress defense.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-04-25T00:00:00Z","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/05-7053.html","primary_docket":"05-7053","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:24:41.654835Z","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 asks who must prove the facts of a duress defense."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the government to disprove duress beyond a reasonable doubt.","The government wants the defendant to prove duress by a preponderance of the evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues duress is an affirmative defense that excuses criminal conduct.","The government argues the defendant must prove the defense because it excuses serious conduct."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked what the added element of the defense is.","Justice Souter asked if the defendant chooses to commit the crime despite pressure."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-37"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the standard for proving a defendant acted under threat."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}]},{"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 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 1-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 1-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-37"}]}],"slug":"2005-05-7053-dixon-v-united-states","term":"2005","title":"Who must prove a defendant acted under duress?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/05-7053.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}