{"argument_date":"2010-03-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-03-22T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-998.pdf","paragraphs":["The trustee argued the lower court ignored the new means test.","The debtor argued the statutory scheme allows for case-specific adjustments.","Justices questioned the practical consequences of the debtor's interpretation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 29-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"caption":"Hamilton v. Lanning","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.554713Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether bankruptcy courts can modify a debtor's income calculation to reflect expected future changes.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 29-3"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-03-22T00:00:00Z","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/08-998.html","primary_docket":"08-998","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:03:54.733713Z","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 involves a conflict over how to calculate a debtor's income for repayment plans. One side argues for a strict formula. The other side argues for flexibility based on future income changes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 29-3"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The trustee wants the court to apply the strict statutory formula for income.","The debtor wants the court to allow adjustments for expected future income changes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 29-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The trustee argues the 2005 amendments require a fixed income calculation.","The debtor argues the statute allows courts to consider projected income changes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 29-3"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked what happens if a debtor's income is too high to pay creditors.","Justice Alito asked how to handle situations where a debtor's income is expected to increase."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines how bankruptcy courts calculate a debtor's ability to pay. It affects the balance between strict rules and individual circumstances. Creditors and debtors both face different repayment obligations based on this calculation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 29-3"}]},{"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 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 23-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-998-hamilton-v-lanning","term":"2009","title":"Can bankruptcy courts adjust a debtor's income based on future changes?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 29-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-998.pdf","page_label":"file page 40, lines 29-3"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}