{"argument_date":"2010-01-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-01-12T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-1224.pdf","paragraphs":["General Kagan argued Article I permits the federal civil commitment statute.","Chief Justice Roberts questioned if federal authority persists after criminal justice ends.","Justice Ginsburg asked about the likelihood of detainees staying in federal custody."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Graydon Earl Comstock, Jr.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.797400Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal law allows the government to hold a person in civil commitment after their criminal sentence ends.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-01-12T00:00:00Z","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/08-1224.html","primary_docket":"08-1224","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:41:17.118802Z","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 federal power under the Necessary and Proper Clause. It asks if Congress can detain individuals who are no longer under criminal sentence but pose a danger to others."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government seeks to detain Comstock under federal civil commitment laws.","Comstock seeks release from federal custody and transfer to state authorities."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues Article I permits Congress to enact limited civil commitment statutes.","Comstock argues federal custody authority ends when the criminal sentence expires."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if federal power ends when the criminal sentence concludes.","Justice Ginsburg asked about the practical experience of transferring detainees to states."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary of federal detention power. It determines if the government can hold individuals beyond their criminal sentences. The outcome shapes the balance between public safety and individual liberty."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"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/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-1224-united-states-v-graydon-earl-comstock-jr","term":"2009","title":"Can the federal government detain a released prisoner deemed sexually dangerous?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1224.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}