{"argument_date":"2008-04-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-04-22T00:00:00Z","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/2007/07-320.pdf","paragraphs":["Andrew Herman argued the law regulates personal spending.","General Clement argued the candidate did not limit his own spending.","Justice Souter noted the law did not deter the candidate."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-15"}]}],"caption":"Davis v. Federal Election Comm’n","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.167270Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A candidate argues a federal law violates free speech by forcing him to spend more money to match a poorer opponent.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-04-22T00:00:00Z","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/07-320.html","primary_docket":"07-320","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T03:30:37.029553Z","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 if the government can regulate a candidate's personal campaign spending."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 22, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The candidate wants the law struck down as a free speech violation.","The commission wants the law upheld to level the playing field."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The candidate argues the law forces him to spend more money.","The commission argues the law does not restrict the wealthy candidate's spending."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if the law actually deters spending.","Chief Justice Roberts asked for case law supporting the candidate's claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the limits of government power over campaign finance."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"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 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-15"}]}],"slug":"2007-07-320-davis-v-federal-election-comm-n","term":"2007","title":"Can a law force wealthy candidates to spend more to match opponents?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-320.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}