{"argument_date":"2010-12-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-12-06T00:00:00Z","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/2010/09-6822.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Parrish argued for the side that brought the case.","Mr. Ciongoli argued for the government.","Justice Sotomayor questioned the premise of judicial discretion.","Justice Ginsburg asked about the specific statutory provision."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 51-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 51-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-37"}]}],"caption":"Pepper v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.302631Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal judges may consider a defendant's good behavior after the initial sentence when imposing a new sentence.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 51-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 51-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 27-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-12-06T00:00:00Z","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/09-6822.html","primary_docket":"09-6822","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:37:06.901715Z","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 judicial discretion during resentencing. The core conflict involves the interpretation of federal sentencing statutes. One side argues for broad judicial flexibility. The other side argues for strict procedural limits. The Court must resolve this statutory tension."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 51-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 51-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 27-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to allow judges to consider post-sentencing rehabilitation.","The government wants the Court to prohibit judges from considering post-sentencing rehabilitation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 51-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 51-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 27-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that categorical bars on variances lack valid legal basis.","The government argues that statutes prevent courts from evading appellate mandates on remand."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 51-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 51-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 27-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if Congress could pass a statute consistent with Booker.","Justice Sotomayor asked why a new sentence is not simply a new sentence."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-37"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This issue determines the practical power of federal judges. It affects how courts weigh rehabilitation in sentencing. It shapes the balance between statutory mandates and judicial discretion. It influences the finality of appellate orders. It impacts the treatment of defendants seeking resentencing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 51-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 51-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 27-39"}]},{"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 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-37"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-6822-pepper-v-united-states","term":"2010","title":"Can judges weigh post-sentencing rehabilitation when resentencing?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 51-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 51-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-6822.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 27-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}