{"argument_date":"2011-03-23T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-03-23T00:00:00Z","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/2010/10-10.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Waxman argued that due process requires counsel before incarceration in civil contempt cases.","Mr. Bibas argued that a per se right to counsel is not essential to prevent unfairness.","Ms. Kruger argued that due process requires a meaningful opportunity to be heard on ability to pay."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 34-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 34-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 10-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 10-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 46-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 4-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 6-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 50-24"}]}],"caption":"Turner v. Rogers","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.990747Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.011537Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a parent facing jail time for unpaid child support must have a lawyer appointed by the state.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 10-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 10-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 4-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 6-10"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-03-23T00:00:00Z","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/10-10.html","primary_docket":"10-10","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:05:53.492407Z","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 examines the procedural rights of a noncustodial parent in a civil contempt proceeding. The core issue is whether the threat of incarceration triggers a constitutional right to appointed counsel. The lower court denied the request for a lawyer. the side that brought the case argues this denial violated due process. the opposing side argues the hearing was fair without one."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 10-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 10-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 4-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 6-10"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 23, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 36-38"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule that due process requires appointed counsel in these hearings.","the opposing side wants the Court to rule that appointed counsel is not required in these hearings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 10-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 10-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 4-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 6-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that the threat of jail time creates a need for legal assistance to ensure fairness.","the opposing side argues that these proceedings are simple enough for a layperson to handle without a lawyer."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 10-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 10-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 4-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 6-10"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if most of these proceedings lack counsel on the opposing side.","Justice Sotomayor asked why a specific legal need exists in these hearings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 34-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 34-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 46-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 6-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 16-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 50-24"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the minimum procedural protections for parents facing jail time for unpaid support. It clarifies the balance between state enforcement powers and individual liberty interests. The outcome shapes how courts handle financial disputes involving potential incarceration."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 10-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 10-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 4-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 6-10"}]},{"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 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 34-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 34-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 46-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 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12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 50-24"}]}],"slug":"2010-10-10-turner-v-rogers","term":"2010","title":"Does due process require appointed counsel in civil contempt hearings for unpaid child support?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 10-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 34, lines 10-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 4-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 6-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-10.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 6-10"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}