{"argument_date":"2008-12-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-12-03T00:00:00Z","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/2008/07-1216.pdf","paragraphs":["Philip Morris claims the state court ignored federal due process rules.","Williams argues the state court acted within its constitutional discretion.","questions_asked_by_justices"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-47"}]}],"caption":"Philip Morris USA Inc. v. Williams","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.773656Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.807144Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Philip Morris argues the Oregon Supreme Court ignored federal instructions. Williams argues the state court acted within its power.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-19"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-12-03T00:00:00Z","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/07-1216.html","primary_docket":"07-1216","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:56:48.295672Z","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":["Philip Morris seeks a federal ruling on its due process claim. Williams defends the state court's alternate legal reasoning."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-19"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 3, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Philip Morris wants the Court to enforce its federal due process claim.","Williams wants the Court to uphold the state court's alternate reasoning."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Philip Morris argues the state court failed to follow federal directions.","Williams argues state courts may resolve cases on alternate state law grounds."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-19"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked what issue was debated four times.","Justice Ginsburg asked if state courts can use alternate grounds."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between state and federal court authority. It determines how lower courts handle conflicting legal standards."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-19"}]},{"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/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-47"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-1216-philip-morris-usa-inc-v-williams","term":"2008","title":"Can a state court decide a federal due process claim on alternate grounds?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-1216.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 5-19"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}