{"argument_date":"2008-01-15T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-01-15T00:00:00Z","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/2007/06-11543.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Katze argued that the issue is whether DWI is a violent felony for sentencing.","Ms. Kruger stated that drunk driving endangers lives by its very nature.","Justice Breyer compared burglary and drunk driving to test the risk standard.","Justice Ginsburg noted that all listed crimes present a serious risk of injury."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-51"}]}],"caption":"Begay v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.478050Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a drunk driving conviction qualifies as a violent felony under federal law.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-01-15T00:00:00Z","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/06-11543.html","primary_docket":"06-11543","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T11:46:59.863454Z","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 if a drunk driving offense fits the legal definition of a violent felony. This classification changes the possible prison sentence for the defendant."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 15, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the court to reject the violent felony label for drunk driving.","The government wants the court to accept the violent felony label for drunk driving."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that drunk driving lacks the specific intent to harm required for a violent felony.","The government argues that drunk driving inherently creates a serious risk of physical injury to others."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if vehicular homicide fits the definition of a crime risking physical injury.","Chief Justice Roberts questioned whether the legal canon of ejusdem generis applies to the statute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-51"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome determines the statutory sentencing range for defendants with prior drunk driving convictions. It defines the scope of the Armed Career Criminal Act. It impacts how courts classify offenses involving risk rather than intent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"}]},{"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 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-51"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-11543-begay-v-united-states","term":"2007","title":"Does drunk driving count as a violent felony for sentencing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11543.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}