{"argument_date":"2012-11-28T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-11-28T00:00:00Z","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/2012/11-9307.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Gilley argued the case involves a small subset of Rule 52(b) cases.","Mr. Wall emphasized the need for a contemporaneous objection.","Justice Scalia questioned how the Court would decide whether to take such a case.","Justice Kennedy noted the number of presented cases could be substantial."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, 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/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"caption":"Henderson v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.853695Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the Court should review legal errors that affect substantial rights but lack a clear record.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-11-28T00:00:00Z","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/11-9307.html","primary_docket":"11-9307","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:34:31.531297Z","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 scope of plain-error review under Rule 52(b)."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 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/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Henderson wants the Court to review the legal error despite the record gap.","The United States wants the Court to deny review due to the record gap."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Henderson argues the error affects substantial rights and warrants review.","The United States argues the record lacks the necessary clarity for review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if the rule would create a new issue in every case.","Justice Alito asked what purpose the plain-error rule serves without the word plain."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the scope of appellate review for legal errors. It determines how courts handle records that lack clarity. It affects the finality of lower-court decisions. It shapes the burden on litigants to preserve issues."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}]},{"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 47-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, 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/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 41-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-9307-henderson-v-united-states","term":"2012","title":"Should the Court review legal errors that affect substantial rights but lack a clear record?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-9307.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-45"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}