{"argument_date":"2011-01-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-01-12T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the statute covers low-risk conduct.","The government argues the statute inherently involves serious danger.","Justice Kennedy requests examples of violations lacking serious risk.","Justice Alito questions if a conviction proves broad category risk."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 38-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 26-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 38-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 36-40"}]}],"caption":"Sykes v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.179119Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether Indiana's vehicular flight statute qualifies as a violent felony under federal law.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 38-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 26-50"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-01-12T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/09-11311.html","primary_docket":"09-11311","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:20:32.300106Z","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 Supreme Court examines if fleeing from police constitutes a violent felony. This status triggers enhanced prison sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The case tests the definition of violent conduct in federal sentencing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 38-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 26-50"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-24"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to reject the violent felony classification.","The government wants the Court to affirm the violent felony classification."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 38-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 26-50"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the statute covers offenses lacking necessary risk.","The government argues the statute inherently involves serious risk."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 38-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 26-50"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asks if the advocate knows the Hape v. State case.","Justice Kennedy questions the requirement to stop immediately during flight."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 38-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 36-40"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of enhanced federal sentencing. It determines which state crimes trigger longer prison terms. The outcome shapes how courts interpret violent felony statutes nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 38-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 26-50"}]},{"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 52-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 36-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 38-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 36-40"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-11311-sykes-v-united-states","term":"2010","title":"Does fleeing a police car count as a violent felony?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 38-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-11311.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 26-50"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}