{"argument_date":"2009-12-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-12-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argued that the statute requires a specific quid pro quo.","The government argued that hiding a conflict of interest constitutes fraud.","Justices questioned the practical application of state law standards in federal cases."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-5"}]}],"caption":"Weyhrauch v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.001764Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.019367Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal mail fraud law covers nondisclosure of conflicts of interest or demands a direct exchange of benefits.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-12-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-1196.html","primary_docket":"08-1196","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:47:23.900482Z","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":["This case tests the scope of federal mail fraud statutes regarding public officials. the side that brought the case argues the law requires a specific quid pro quo. The government contends that hiding a conflict of interest violates the statute. The Court must define the boundary between these two legal standards."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 9-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned because no direct exchange of benefits occurred.","The government wants the conviction upheld because the side that brought the case hid a conflict of interest."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the statute requires a specific quid pro quo to establish fraud.","The government argues that nondisclosure of a conflict of interest satisfies the fraud element."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if state law variations make the side that brought the case's approach unworkable.","Justice Alito asked if Congress intended heavy penalties for minor disclosure breaches."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the criminal liability of public officials who hide conflicts of interest. It clarifies the scope of federal mail fraud laws. It impacts how prosecutors charge officials for nondisclosure. It sets a national standard for defining fraud in public service."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-7"}]},{"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 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-5"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-1196-weyhrauch-v-united-states","term":"2009","title":"Does mail fraud require a specific quid pro quo or does hiding a conflict of interest suffice?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1196.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}