{"argument_date":"2012-02-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-02-22T00:00:00Z","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/2011/11-210.pdf","paragraphs":["General Verrilli argued that military honors sustain core national values.","He stated that Congress has a long tradition of protecting the honors system.","Mr. Libby argued that the Stolen Valor Act criminalizes pure speech.","He noted that the law punishes lies regardless of the context or audience."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-27"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Alvarez","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.404946Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the Stolen Valor Act violates free speech by punishing false statements about military service.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-02-22T00:00:00Z","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/11-210.html","primary_docket":"11-210","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:12:52.758385Z","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":["The case tests the limits of federal power to punish lies about military decorations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 22, 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/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government seeks to uphold the law to protect the integrity of military honors.","The defendant seeks to strike down the law to protect free speech from government punishment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues that protecting the military honors system is a vital national interest.","The defendant argues that the law criminalizes pure speech without any tangible harm."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if the government claims no value exists for false speech.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the law would ban false claims of service without decorations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-27"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between government regulation and individual expression. It determines whether citizens can speak falsely about military service without facing federal prison. The outcome shapes the scope of free speech protections in public discourse."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"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 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-27"}]}],"slug":"2011-11-210-united-states-v-alvarez","term":"2011","title":"Can Congress criminalize false claims of military honors?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/11-210.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}