{"argument_date":"2009-01-14T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-01-14T00:00:00Z","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/2008/07-9712.pdf","paragraphs":["Puckett's lawyer argued the government broke a clear promise. He stated this breach caused prejudice at sentencing.","The government's lawyer argued objections serve important court functions. She claimed Puckett's silence forfeited his claim.","Justice Roberts noted remorse is theoretically consistent with future crimes. He questioned the logic of the plea terms.","Justice Alito asked if the judge knew the facts from the presentence report. He probed the necessity of the objection."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-29"}]}],"caption":"Puckett v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.683319Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.708175Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Jimmy Puckett claims the government broke a plea deal. He wants a lower sentence. The government says he missed a procedural deadline.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-23"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-01-14T00:00:00Z","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/07-9712.html","primary_docket":"07-9712","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:41:51.947311Z","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":["Puckett pled guilty. The government promised a sentence reduction. They failed to recommend it. Puckett did not object at trial. He now appeals. The Court must decide if he can still win."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-23"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 25-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Puckett wants the Court to reverse the lower court. He seeks the promised sentence reduction.","The government wants the Court to affirm the lower court. It seeks to deny the sentence reduction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Puckett argues the government breached the plea agreement. He claims this error was plain and prejudicial.","The government argues Puckett failed to object at trial. It claims this forfeits his right to appeal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-23"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Souter asked if the core issue is the government's failure to recommend the reduction.","Justice Ginsburg asked if Puckett's post-plea crime counts as a third fact in the record."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-29"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the remedy for broken plea deals. It determines whether defendants must object immediately to preserve their rights. It shapes how federal courts handle government breaches of trust."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-23"}]},{"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 41-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-29"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-9712-puckett-v-united-states","term":"2008","title":"Must a defendant object to a plea breach before appealing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-9712.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 9-23"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}