{"argument_date":"2013-04-16T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-04-16T00:00:00Z","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/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Blatt argued for the sides that brought the case. She focused on the child's best interests. She stated the father had no legal rights under state law.","Mr. Kneedler argued for the opposing side. He started with the definition of an official parent. He argued this definition drives the entire legal analysis.","Mr. Clement argued that without federal law, the father has no rights. He stated the child would receive a best interests determination. He emphasized the clarity of state law.","Mr. Rothfeld argued the child's custody was not transferred without a best interest determination. He stated this is clear from the lower court decisions. He rejected the claim of a procedural violation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 43-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 27-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"caption":"Adoptive Couple v. Baby Girl","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.303206Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.310478Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal law protects a noncustodial biological father's rights over a child's best interests.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 27-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-04-16T00:00:00Z","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/12-399.html","primary_docket":"12-399","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T21:52:25.370131Z","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":["This case tests the scope of federal protections for Native American families. The core conflict involves the definition of a family under federal law. One side argues for a broad biological definition. The other side argues for a definition based on actual custody and care."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 27-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 2013."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 7-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the adoption to stand. They argue the child needs a stable home. They believe the biological father had no legal rights.","the opposing side wants to block the adoption. They argue federal law protects the biological father. They believe this preserves the Indian family unit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 27-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue federal law should not override state custody rules. They claim the father had no legal standing. They emphasize the child's best interests as the primary goal.","the opposing side argues federal law creates a special family definition. They claim biological ties trigger federal protections. They assert this prevents the breakup of Indian families."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 27-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if this situation breaks up an Indian family. He noted the federal statute uses an expansive phrase. He distinguished this from state law definitions.","Justice Sotomayor asked why a noncustodial parent with visitation rights is not a family. She questioned the reliance on state definitions. She suggested a federal meaning might be better."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 43-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the legal meaning of an Indian family. It determines when federal law overrides state custody decisions. It affects the rights of biological parents in adoption cases. It shapes the balance between child welfare and cultural preservation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 27-49"}]},{"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 10, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 43-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 3-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 5-21"}]}],"slug":"2012-12-399-adoptive-couple-v-baby-girl","term":"2012","title":"Does federal law define an Indian family by custody or biological ties?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 47-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 47-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/12-399_53k8.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 27-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}