{"argument_date":"2013-04-15T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-04-15T00:00:00Z","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/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Feigin argued on behalf of the side that brought the case.","Mr. Yablon argued that the magistrate judge distorted the pretrial process.","justice_questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-9"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Davila","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.299929Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a magistrate judge may urge a defendant to abandon trial rights and accept a plea deal.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-04-15T00:00:00Z","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/12-167.html","primary_docket":"12-167","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T21:57:48.755121Z","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 examines the limits of judicial neutrality during pretrial proceedings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 15, 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/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case seeks a ruling that the magistrate judge acted improperly.","the opposing side seeks a ruling that the magistrate judge acted within bounds."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the magistrate judge abandoned neutrality and distorted the process.","the opposing side argues the magistrate judge did not improperly influence the defendant."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked whether the judge assumed the defendant would not rebut the intervention.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the district judge knew about the earlier magistrate episode."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundaries of judicial conduct during plea negotiations. It protects the integrity of the pretrial process. It ensures defendants retain their constitutional trial rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-17"}]},{"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 12, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-9"}]}],"slug":"2012-12-167-united-states-v-davila","term":"2012","title":"Can a magistrate judge pressure a defendant to plead guilty?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-167_n648.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}