{"argument_date":"2013-11-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-11-12T00:00:00Z","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/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Campbell argued that the jury instruction failed to require primary causation.","Mr. Horwich stated that Congress intended to hold traffickers responsible for overdose results.","justice_questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-7"}]}],"caption":"Burrage v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.436857Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.468504Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Marcus Burrage challenges his mandatory minimum sentence for a death involving multiple substances.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-11-12T00:00:00Z","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/12-7515.html","primary_docket":"12-7515","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T21:26:10.464004Z","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 legal standard for causation in drug-related death statutes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 12, 2013."],"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/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 9-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Burrage seeks reversal of his conviction because his drug was not the sole cause of death.","The government seeks to uphold the conviction because his drug contributed to the fatal overdose."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Burrage argues that but-for causation is the required legal standard for conviction.","The government argues that contributing to an overdose satisfies the statutory requirement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if adding a third drop to two existing drops creates liability.","Justice Scalia asked why the scenario does not fit but-for causation definitions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the scope of criminal liability for drug dealers in multi-substance deaths."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-7"}]},{"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 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-7"}]}],"slug":"2013-12-7515-burrage-v-united-states","term":"2013","title":"Does a drug dealer's supply cause a death if other drugs also contributed?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-7515_g119.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 37-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}