{"argument_date":"2012-10-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-10-01T00:00:00Z","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/2012/11-626.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Fisher argued the structure must be practically capable of maritime transportation.","Mr. Frederick argued the houseboat posed a hazard and violated marina rules.","Mr. Gannon argued function is key to determining if a structure is a vessel."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-19"}]}],"caption":"Lozman v. Riviera Beach","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.100646Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.134638Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a houseboat permanently moored in a marina qualifies as a vessel for federal jurisdiction.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-10-01T00:00:00Z","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/11-626.html","primary_docket":"11-626","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:54:32.236467Z","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 a structure used as a home counts as a vessel. The answer determines federal court jurisdiction over local disputes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 1, 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/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule the houseboat is not a vessel.","The City wants the Court to rule the houseboat is a vessel."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the structure lacks practical capability for maritime transportation.","The City argues the structure served a transportation function and was moved."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked about the frequency of the term indefinitely moored in the brief.","Justice Scalia questioned the clarity of the proposed legal test for vessels."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-19"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between local property and federal maritime law. It determines which courts handle disputes over floating structures. The outcome shapes jurisdiction for similar nationwide cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"}]},{"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 11-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-19"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-626-lozman-v-riviera-beach","term":"2012","title":"Does a permanently moored houseboat count as a vessel under federal law?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 15-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 15-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-626.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 49-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}