{"argument_date":"2008-03-24T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-03-24T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Fisher argued the state label determines the federal classification.","Ms. Saharsky argued the maximum prison term determines the federal classification.","questions_asked_by_justices"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 43-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-51"}]}],"caption":"Burgess v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.231464Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a state crime is a federal felony based on its label or its maximum prison term.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 43-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-03-24T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-11429.html","primary_docket":"06-11429","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T03:42:07.457084Z","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 how federal law defines a felony drug offense. The definition hinges on the maximum possible prison sentence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 43-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 24, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the state offense treated as a misdemeanor.","The government wants the state offense treated as a felony."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 43-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the state label controls the federal classification.","The government argues the maximum prison term controls the federal classification."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 43-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked how the state offense compares to a felony.","Justice Kennedy asked if this interpretation is time-honored since Granderson."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-51"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This definition determines federal sentencing enhancements for drug crimes. It affects how courts classify state offenses. It impacts the length of federal prison terms."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 43-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"}]},{"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 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-51"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-11429-burgess-v-united-states","term":"2007","title":"Does a state misdemeanor count as a federal felony if it carries a one-year sentence?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 43-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11429.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}