{"argument_date":"2008-01-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-01-08T00:00:00Z","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/2007/06-11612.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Newton argued the side that brought the case was absent and lacked an interpreter during the consent process.","Ms. Blatt argued the decision to use a magistrate is a strategic call for counsel.","Justice Roberts asked if the right is derivative of other fair trial rights.","Justice Scalia questioned which article of the Constitution governs the magistrate's role."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-51"}]}],"caption":"Gonzalez v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.391904Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a magistrate judge may conduct jury selection when the defendant was absent and did not personally consent.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-01-08T00:00:00Z","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/06-11612.html","primary_docket":"06-11612","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T11:52:14.417207Z","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":["This case examines the constitutional limits on magistrate judges. It tests whether a magistrate can perform core judicial functions like jury selection. The core issue is the defendant's right to a fair trial."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 8, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned because he did not personally consent to the magistrate's role.","The government wants the conviction upheld because the attorney's consent was sufficient."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the magistrate lacked authority because the defendant was absent and did not consent.","The government argues the attorney's strategic decision to consent was legally sufficient."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if waiving a jury trial is easily understood by ordinary people.","Justice Ginsburg noted the lack of objections to the magistrate's proceedings by the defendant's side."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-51"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of magistrate judge authority. It clarifies the defendant's right to participate in jury selection. It protects the integrity of the federal judicial system."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"}]},{"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 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-51"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-11612-gonzalez-v-united-states","term":"2007","title":"Can a magistrate judge conduct jury selection without the defendant's direct consent?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-11612.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}