{"argument_date":"2010-12-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-12-01T00:00:00Z","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/2010/09-1163.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Mann argued the plain language of Exemption 2 dictates a narrow category.","He stated this category relates solely to internal personnel policies and rules.","Justice Alito highlighted the long-standing reliance on the Crooker decision.","Justice Sotomayor questioned the meaning of Congress limiting the amendment to Exemption 7."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 4-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 46-50"}]}],"caption":"Milner v. Department of Navy","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.269831Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether Exemption 2 shields only internal personnel rules or broader internal agency matters.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-12-01T00:00:00Z","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/09-1163.html","primary_docket":"09-1163","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:38:46.838391Z","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 tests the scope of Exemption 2 under the Freedom of Information Act. the side that brought the case Milner seeks records. The Department of the Navy withholds them. The core issue is the definition of internal personnel rules."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Milner wants the Court to limit Exemption 2 to internal personnel rules.","The Navy wants the Court to maintain the broad Crooker interpretation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Milner argues the plain language of Exemption 2 dictates a narrow category.","The Navy argues Crooker remains the leading decision and commands reliance."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked why the argument does not show acceptance of Crooker.","Justice Alito noted greater security concerns since 1981 regarding information disclosure."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 4-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 46-50"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the scope of FOIA exemptions. It determines which internal agency records remain confidential. It affects public access to government information. It clarifies the relationship between Exemption 2 and Exemption 7."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"}]},{"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 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 6-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 4-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 46-50"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-1163-milner-v-department-of-navy","term":"2010","title":"Does Exemption 2 cover only internal personnel rules?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1163.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-40"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}