{"argument_date":"2012-10-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-10-03T00:00:00Z","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/2012/11-597.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Goodhart argued temporary flooding can be a taking. He stated the Federal Circuit ruling that permanent consequences are irrelevant is incorrect. He asserted the lower-court rule cannot stand.","Mr. Kneedler argued temporary flooding is a trespass. He distinguished temporary flooding from permanent invasion cases. He cited precedent requiring permanent invasion for government responsibility.","questions_and_answers"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-27"}]}],"caption":"Arkansas Game and Fish Comm'n v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.131499Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether temporary flooding by the government constitutes a taking under the Fifth Amendment.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-10-03T00:00:00Z","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/11-597.html","primary_docket":"11-597","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:53:29.416723Z","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 asks if temporary flooding by the government counts as a taking under the Fifth Amendment. the side that brought the case argues temporary flooding can be a taking. The government argues temporary flooding is never a taking. The lower court ruled temporary flooding is not a taking. the side that brought the case seeks to reverse that ruling. The government seeks to affirm that ruling."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 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/2012/11-597.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 rule that temporary flooding can be a taking.","The government wants the Court to rule that temporary flooding is never a taking."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues temporary flooding can constitute a taking under the Fifth Amendment.","The government argues temporary flooding is a trespass, not a taking."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if temporary flooding is a taking.","Justice Breyer asked how temporary flooding differs from permanent invasion cases like Causby and Kimball Laundry. Justice Breyer noted eleven cases support the temporary trespass view. Justice Ginsburg asked about the Sanguinetti precedent requiring permanent invasion for government responsibility."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-27"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether landowners can claim compensation for temporary government flooding. It defines the scope of the Fifth Amendment's takings clause. It clarifies the legal distinction between temporary trespass and permanent taking. It impacts government water management and property rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"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 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-27"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-597-arkansas-game-and-fish-comm-n-v-united-states","term":"2012","title":"Does temporary government flooding count as a taking?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-597.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}