{"argument_date":"2009-02-25T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-02-25T00:00:00Z","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/2008/08-108.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Russell argued that knowing use implies knowing the specific item.","Justice Alito challenged this view with a hypothetical about a mugger.","Justice Breyer used a Denver ordinance example to test the logic.","Justice Ginsburg noted the government agrees on most elements of the statute."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"}]}],"caption":"Flores-Figueroa v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.546941Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a defendant must know the specific owner of an identification document to commit a federal crime.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-02-25T00:00:00Z","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/08-108.html","primary_docket":"08-108","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:33:30.142422Z","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 the scope of a federal identity theft statute. the side that brought the case argues the law requires knowledge of the victim. The government argues the law only requires knowledge of the document itself."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 25, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned. the side that brought the case argues the statute requires knowledge of the specific victim.","The government wants the conviction upheld. The government argues the statute only requires knowledge of the document."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case claims common usage implies knowing the specific item and its owner.","The government claims the statute lists specific felonies and does not require victim knowledge."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked why the phrase is not less unambiguous.","Justice Alito asked if context changes the meaning of knowing possession."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the mental state required for federal identity theft. It determines the scope of criminal liability for using identification documents. It affects how prosecutors charge similar offenses nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"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 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"}]}],"slug":"2008-08-108-flores-figueroa-v-united-states","term":"2008","title":"Does knowingly use require knowing the owner?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 37-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 37-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/08-108.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}