{"argument_date":"2006-10-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2006-10-10T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","paragraphs":["The government argued that omitting an element is harmless. It cited a prior case involving jury instructions.","The defendant argued the Constitution mandates a single charging method. It stated that method is the federal indictment.","Justice Kennedy noted the lack of objection opportunities. He contrasted grand jury indictments with trial objections.","Justice Scalia asked if the Court must wait for a verdict. He questioned if the error is only clear after conviction."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-7"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Resendiz-Ponce","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:28.321372Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The government argues a missing indictment element is harmless. The defendant argues it is a constitutional violation.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2006-10-10T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2006","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/05-998.html","primary_docket":"05-998","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T13:17:43.039507Z","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 whether a federal indictment must list every offense element. The government claims a missing element is harmless if evidence proves guilt. The defendant claims the Constitution requires a complete indictment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 10, 2006."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the Court to affirm the conviction. It argues the missing element is harmless error.","The defendant wants the Court to reverse the conviction. It argues the missing element violates the Constitution."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues a missing indictment element is harmless. It cites precedent allowing harmless error in jury instructions.","The defendant argues the Constitution requires a complete indictment. It claims no other charging method exists."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if the Court can answer the generic harmless error question. He questioned if the specific defect nature matters.","Chief Justice Roberts asked about probable cause timing. He wondered if prosecutors can indict before gathering all evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the minimum requirements for federal criminal indictments. It determines whether prosecutors can omit elements and rely on trial evidence. The outcome shapes the balance between prosecutorial discretion and defendant rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}]},{"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 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 7-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-7"}]}],"slug":"2006-05-998-united-states-v-resendiz-ponce","term":"2006","title":"Can a missing indictment element be harmless error?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2006/05-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}