{"argument_date":"2015-03-24T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-03-24T00:00:00Z","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/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Spinelli argued debtors can strip underwater mortgages and keep homes.","Mr. Bibas argued claims without value are unsecured and liens are void.","questions_and_answers"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 41-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"}]}],"caption":"Bank of America, N.A. v. Caulkett","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.131373Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Debtors seek to remove liens on homes worth less than their debt. Lenders argue this strips their security interest.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 41-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-03-24T00:00:00Z","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/13-1421.html","primary_docket":"13-1421","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:45:16.255668Z","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 whether Section 506(d) voids liens on underwater mortgages. Debtors want to keep homes and drop debt. Lenders want to preserve their security interest in the property."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 41-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 24, 2015."],"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/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Debtors want to remove underwater mortgage liens and keep their homes.","Lenders want to preserve their security interest in the property value."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 41-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Debtors argue Section 506(d) voids liens on claims with no value.","Lenders argue debtors cannot strip liens and prevent access to appreciation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 41-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked how a lender forecloses if the trustee sells the property.","Justice Scalia asked why the Court should not limit prior precedent to specific facts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether debtors can eliminate underwater mortgage debt. It affects the balance between fresh starts and lender security."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 41-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}]},{"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 11, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"}]}],"slug":"2014-13-1421-bank-of-america-n-a-v-caulkett","term":"2014","title":"Can debtors strip underwater mortgages in Chapter 7 bankruptcy?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 41-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-1421_0813.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}