{"argument_date":"2015-01-14T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-01-14T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Kovner asserts two independent reasons for removal.","Mr. Laramore claims the BIA abandoned longstanding practice.","Justice Alito probes the statutory text's grammatical structure.","Justice Breyer questions the logical consequence of the argument."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 34-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 32-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 44-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 4-16"}]}],"caption":"Mellouli v. Holder","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.373421Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a state drug paraphernalia conviction triggers federal removal.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 34-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-01-14T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/13-1034.html","primary_docket":"13-1034","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T20:01:25.500608Z","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 federal removal statutes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 34-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-10"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Ms. Kovner seeks removal based on the conviction.","Mr. Laramore seeks to keep the side that brought the case in the country."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 34-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Ms. Kovner argues the conviction permits removal.","Mr. Laramore argues the BIA changed the removability analysis."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 34-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asks what the statutory phrase modifies.","Justice Breyer asks why the opposing side loses the case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 32-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 44-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 4-16"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the reach of federal removal laws."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 34-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"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 4, lines 16-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 32-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 44-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 24-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 4-16"}]}],"slug":"2014-13-1034-mellouli-v-holder","term":"2014","title":"Does a drug paraphernalia conviction make a noncitizen removable?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 34-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1034_1i70.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}