{"argument_date":"2012-02-21T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-02-21T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","paragraphs":["Michael Fried argued the statute limits fees to spoken communication.","He cited the Court Interpreters Act as primary authority for this view.","Justice Sotomayor noted the dictionary definition includes translation work.","She asked why the Court should change existing practices."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-9"}]}],"caption":"Taniguchi v. Kan Pacific Saipan, Ltd.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.398887Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal courts can charge the losing party for written translation work under the interpreter fee statute.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-02-21T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-1472.html","primary_docket":"10-1472","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:15:06.764380Z","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 28 U.S.C. section 1920(6). The statute allows courts to award fees for interpreters. The parties disagree on whether this term includes written translation services."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 21, 2012."],"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/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to limit the statute to spoken communication only.","the opposing side wants the Court to allow fees for written translation work."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the Court Interpreters Act defines the role as spoken services.","the opposing side argues the dictionary definition supports a broader interpretation of the term."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked why other courts adopted the opposite reading.","Justice Sotomayor questioned why the Court should disrupt a working system."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This issue determines whether litigants pay for written translation. It affects the cost of federal litigation involving foreign languages."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}]},{"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 25-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-9"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-1472-taniguchi-v-kan-pacific-saipan-ltd","term":"2011","title":"Does the term interpreter cover written translation fees?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1472.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-35"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}