{"argument_date":"2011-04-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-04-18T00:00:00Z","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/2010/10-5400.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Cahn argued that Congress intended to end the practice of sending defendants to prison for treatment.","Mr. Bibas argued that the Sentencing Reform Act rejected unstructured sentencing procedures designed to confine inmates indefinitely.","Mr. Roberts stated that Section 3582(a) prohibits courts from lengthening imprisonment to promote rehabilitation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-9"}]}],"caption":"Tapia v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.738789Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a sentencing judge may lengthen a prison term to ensure a defendant receives specific correctional treatment.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-04-18T00:00:00Z","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/10-5400.html","primary_docket":"10-5400","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T20:51:23.361788Z","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 limits of judicial sentencing power. The core issue is whether the Sentencing Reform Act bars judges from using prison time as a tool to secure rehabilitation services."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the sentence reduced because the judge used prison time to secure treatment.","The government wants the sentence to stand because judges may consider treatment needs when setting terms."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that Congress banned using imprisonment to promote rehabilitation or secure treatment access.","The government argues that judges may consider needed treatments when deciding whether to imprison and for how long."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if the judge’s focus on crime seriousness contradicted the treatment rationale.","Justice Scalia asked if the defendant received the treatment the judge intended to secure."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between punishment and rehabilitation in federal sentencing. It clarifies whether judges can use prison terms to guarantee access to specific correctional programs. The outcome shapes how courts balance public safety with individual treatment needs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"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 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-9"}]}],"slug":"2010-10-5400-tapia-v-united-states","term":"2010","title":"Can judges extend prison sentences to secure drug treatment?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/10-5400.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}