{"argument_date":"2007-10-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-10-09T00:00:00Z","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/2007/06-571.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Koch argued that receiving a gun does not constitute use under the statute.","Ms. Maynard argued that accepting a gun in a drug trade is using it.","Justice Alito questioned why Congress would penalize one party but not the other in a trade.","Justice Ginsburg noted that possession is also indictable under the amended statute."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-25"}]}],"caption":"Michael A. Watson v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.725742Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether accepting a firearm in a drug trade satisfies the federal statute's definition of using a gun.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-21"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-10-09T00:00:00Z","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/06-571.html","primary_docket":"06-571","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:12:44.731204Z","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 tests the scope of a federal firearms statute. the side that brought the case argues that receiving a gun does not count as using it. The government contends that accepting the gun in a drug trade is a form of use."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-21"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 9, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.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 receiving a gun is not using it.","The government wants the conviction upheld because accepting a gun in a drug trade is using it."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that the statute requires active use, not passive receipt of a firearm.","The government argues that accepting a gun in exchange for drugs constitutes use under the law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-21"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked why the danger of converting a gun to a weapon matters here.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if the government should address the specific charging issue first."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-25"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the legal meaning of using a firearm in drug crimes. It determines the scope of federal penalties for gun-related offenses. It clarifies the boundary between possession and use in criminal law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-21"}]},{"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 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-25"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-571-michael-a-watson-v-united-states","term":"2007","title":"Does receiving a gun for drugs count as using it?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 23-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-571.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-21"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}