{"argument_date":"2012-10-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-10-29T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","paragraphs":["General Verrilli argued the question is whether the opposing sides have standing to challenge the law.","Mr. Jaffer argued plaintiffs have standing due to a substantial risk of acquisition.","Justice Scalia questioned whether the issue belongs to the judiciary under separated powers.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the government could invoke state secrets if standing exists."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-9"}]}],"caption":"Clapper v. Amnesty International USA","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.902444Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.933506Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Plaintiffs claim a substantial risk of surveillance. The government argues the threat is too speculative.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-3"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-10-29T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/11-1025.html","primary_docket":"11-1025","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:48:06.079018Z","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 whether plaintiffs can sue over a law that allows foreign surveillance. The core dispute is whether a future, uncertain threat creates legal standing."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-3"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 29, 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/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the Court to dismiss the case for lack of standing.","The plaintiffs want the Court to allow their lawsuit to proceed."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the threat of surveillance is too speculative to create standing.","The plaintiffs argue a substantial risk of surveillance compels immediate protective measures."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-3"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked who specifically would be charged with a criminal offense.","Justice Sotomayor asked if anyone has standing under the current legal framework."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the threshold for challenging government surveillance powers. It determines when citizens can seek judicial review of secret intelligence programs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-3"}]},{"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 3, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 39-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-9"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-1025-clapper-v-amnesty-international-usa","term":"2012","title":"Do plaintiffs have standing to challenge foreign surveillance laws?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 35-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1025.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 35-3"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}