{"argument_date":"2009-11-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-11-10T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-911.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Leiter argued Congress enacted the law to reduce federal court burdens.","Ms. Saharsky argued the statute does not bar review of reopen denials.","Mr. Schoenfield argued Congress limited review only to specific subchapter authorities."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-17"}]}],"caption":"Kucana v. Holder","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.138699Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal courts can review denials of motions to reopen immigration cases.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-25"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-11-10T00:00:00Z","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/08-911.html","primary_docket":"08-911","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:52:59.413805Z","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 judicial review over immigration decisions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-25"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants a court to review the denial of his motion to reopen.","The government wants to block court review of the denial."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-25"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the statute does not bar review of reopen denials.","The government argues the statute strictly limits review of discretionary decisions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-25"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked which statutory provision controls the regulation's validity.","Justice Kennedy asked if the statute implies no discretion absent the regulation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-17"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the boundary between executive discretion and judicial oversight in immigration law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-25"}]},{"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 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-17"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-911-kucana-v-holder","term":"2009","title":"Does the statute bar courts from reviewing immigration reopen denials?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 37-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 43-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-911.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 43-25"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}