{"argument_date":"2008-12-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-12-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Miller argued Congress directed the Veterans Court to account for prejudicial error.","Mr. Meade argued notice is integral to the system Congress designed.","Mr. Lippman argued the grave doubt standard assumes a fully developed record."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-41"}]}],"caption":"Peake v. Sanders","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.773590Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Veterans argue the VA must warn them before denying claims. The government argues veterans must prove harm from missing notices.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 23-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-12-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/07-1209.html","primary_docket":"07-1209","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:54:52.891511Z","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 whether the VA must notify veterans before denying benefits. the sides that brought the case seek a rule that missing notice harms veterans. the opposing sides seek a rule that veterans must prove specific harm."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 23-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 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/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The veteran wants the Court to rule that missing notice harms the claim.","The government wants the Court to rule that veterans must prove specific harm."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 23-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The veteran argues notice is integral to the system Congress designed.","The government argues veterans must carry the burden of showing prejudice."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 23-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked why the standard of review does not resolve the case.","Justice Scalia asked if the Attorney General's commentary supports the veteran's view."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-41"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines how veterans prove harm from missing notices. It shapes the burden of proof in benefits cases. It affects how the VA handles future claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 23-39"}]},{"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 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-41"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-1209-peake-v-sanders","term":"2008","title":"Does the VA owe veterans notice before denying benefits?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1209.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 23-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}