{"argument_date":"2008-04-15T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-04-15T00:00:00Z","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/2007/06-7517.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Madden argued that the sentencing process failed due to lack of notice.","Mr. Rutledge argued for two alternative grounds to support the lower court.","Mr. Roberts argued that Rule 32 requires notice for new grounds."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.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/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 37, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-21"}]}],"caption":"Irizarry v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.134600Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a judge must announce new sentencing reasons before the final sentence.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 37, lines 37-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-04-15T00:00:00Z","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/06-7517.html","primary_docket":"06-7517","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:33:11.615521Z","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 timing of judicial explanations during sentencing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 37, lines 37-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 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/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case seeks a rule requiring advance notice of new sentencing reasons.","The government seeks to allow judges to state new reasons at the final hearing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 37, lines 37-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that surprise sentencing reasons violate fair process.","The government argues that judges need flexibility to explain sentences fully."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 37, lines 37-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if the notice rule fits advisory guidelines.","Justice Ginsburg asked what the judge intended with the evidence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This issue defines how clearly judges must explain their sentencing choices."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 37, lines 37-9"}]},{"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/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-21"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-7517-irizarry-v-united-states","term":"2007","title":"Must judges explain new sentencing reasons before the verdict?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-7517.pdf","page_label":"file page 37, lines 37-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}