{"argument_date":"2013-12-04T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-12-04T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","paragraphs":["The government claims the road falls under military command.","The man claims the road serves the general public.","Justice Kagan asked how to distinguish military control from public access.","Justice Alito asked how to define boundaries in rural areas."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 33-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-39"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Apel","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.250270Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.253083Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A man faces a misdemeanor charge for reentering a public road on a military base after a ban.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 33-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-12-04T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/12-1038.html","primary_docket":"12-1038","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T21:14:43.938066Z","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 a federal statute banning reentry to military areas."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 33-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 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/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the conviction to stand.","The man wants the conviction overturned."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 33-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the road is part of the military installation.","The man argues the road is a public space open to all."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 33-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if the man could access public schools nearby.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the ruling would erase prior precedent on public roads."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-39"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines where military authority ends and public rights begin."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 33-17"}]},{"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 10, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 29-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 45-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-39"}]}],"slug":"2013-12-1038-united-states-v-apel","term":"2013","title":"Does a public road on a military base count as a military installation?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-1038_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 33-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}