{"argument_date":"2014-01-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2014-01-22T00:00:00Z","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/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's counsel argued that all losses must be proximately caused by the defendant's offense conduct.","The government's counsel argued that the statute promises the victim restitution for all of her losses.","The government's counsel contended that the side that brought the case's position would leave the victim with nothing in restitution."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 35-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-47"}]}],"caption":"Paroline v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.159934Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a sentencing judge can award restitution for losses not directly caused by the defendant's specific conduct.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 35-9"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2014-01-22T00:00:00Z","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/12-8561.html","primary_docket":"12-8561","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T20:55:39.007887Z","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 a federal restitution statute. The core issue is how courts calculate damages when multiple offenders contribute to a victim's harm."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 35-9"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 22, 2014."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the court to limit restitution to losses directly caused by the defendant's specific actions.","The government wants the court to allow restitution for the victim's total losses, even if not directly caused by one offender."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 35-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that statutory law requires a direct causal link between the defendant's conduct and the victim's specific losses.","The government argues that the statute promises full compensation for the victim's total losses, regardless of individual offender causation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 35-9"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked why proximate causation is a legal issue rather than a factual one.","Justice Kennedy asked why the award is not based on the aggregate number of offenders."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how courts calculate financial compensation for victims of crimes involving multiple perpetrators. It determines whether victims receive full compensation or only a portion tied to specific defendants. The outcome shapes restitution standards for similar federal crimes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 35-9"}]},{"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 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-47"}]}],"slug":"2013-12-8561-paroline-v-united-states","term":"2013","title":"Does a victim's loss require direct causation by a specific offender?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-8561_e1gj.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 35-9"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}