{"argument_date":"2009-11-30T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-11-30T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-304.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Browning argued the word administrative excludes state sources.","Mr. Hallward-Driemeier argued federal terms imply a federal scope.","Mr. Hurt argued the text compels the Fourth Circuit result."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-49"}]}],"caption":"Graham County Soil and Water Conservation Dist. v. United States ex rel. Wilson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.890306Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether state-generated reports count as public disclosures under federal fraud law.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-47"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-11-30T00:00:00Z","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/08-304.html","primary_docket":"08-304","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:52:23.622634Z","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 the False Claims Act's public disclosure bar. the sides that brought the case argue state audits fall outside the federal definition. the opposing sides claim the statute covers all public sources."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-47"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to limit the bar to federal sources only.","the opposing sides want the Court to include state audits in the bar."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the text restricts the bar to federal agencies.","the opposing sides argue the statutory purpose covers all public disclosures."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if a state hearing could immunize fraud.","Justice Scalia questioned whether documents count as a hearing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-49"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines which public records block private fraud suits. It shapes the balance between state oversight and federal enforcement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-47"}]},{"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 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-49"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-304-graham-county-soil-and-water-conservation-dist-v-united-states-ex-rel-wilson","term":"2009","title":"Does the False Claims Act bar suits based on state audits?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-304.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-47"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}