{"argument_date":"2013-04-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-04-22T00:00:00Z","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/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Ruttenberg argued federal interest ends once proceeds are paid.","Mr. Johnson argued federal law grants an absolute right to the beneficiary.","Ms. Goldenberg argued the state order attempts to bypass federal preemption."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 25-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-9"}]}],"caption":"Hillman v. Maretta","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.346720Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A state court order conflicts with a federal statute that locks in a named beneficiary.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 25-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-04-22T00:00:00Z","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/11-1221.html","primary_docket":"11-1221","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T21:50:34.719106Z","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 whether state law can alter federal insurance rules."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 25-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 22, 2013."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the state court order to control the payout.","the opposing side wants the federal statute to control the payout."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 25-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues state law can change the beneficiary after divorce.","the opposing side argues federal law creates an absolute right for the named beneficiary."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 25-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if Congress would have left money with the first wife.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the divorce exception generalizes to all cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines who receives federal life insurance proceeds after a divorce."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 25-49"}]},{"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 3, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-9"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-1221-hillman-v-maretta","term":"2012","title":"Does a state divorce decree override federal law to change a life insurance beneficiary?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 25-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-1221_p8k0.pdf","page_label":"file page 39, lines 25-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}