{"argument_date":"2015-01-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-01-12T00:00:00Z","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/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","paragraphs":["David Cortman argued for the sign owner. He said the town code discriminates based on what signs say. He said this violates the First Amendment.","Justice Roberts asked if political speech is more valuable than directions to a soccer game. He asked if this is fair.","Justice Alito asked if a yard sale sign has the same right as an election sign. He asked if this is fair.","Justice Kennedy asked if directional signs are a valid category. He asked if this is fair."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 17-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"caption":"Reed v. Town of Gilbert","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.342176Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A town sign code treats political signs differently from other signs. One side says this violates free speech. The other side says the town needs flexible rules to manage signs.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 17-45"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-01-12T00:00:00Z","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/13-502.html","primary_docket":"13-502","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T20:09:58.561465Z","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 involves a town sign code. The code treats political signs differently from other signs. One side says this violates free speech. The other side says the town needs flexible rules to manage signs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 17-45"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 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/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The sign owner wants the Court to strike down the town sign code. The sign owner says the code violates free speech.","The town wants the Court to keep the sign code. The town says the code helps manage signs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 17-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The sign owner says the town code discriminates based on what signs say. The sign owner says this violates the First Amendment.","The town says strict scrutiny would limit speech. The town says it needs flexible rules to manage signs."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 17-45"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if a wealthy person can put up many birthday signs. He asked if this is like political signs.","Justice Ginsburg asked if birthday signs get the same treatment as political signs. She asked if this is fair."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case affects how towns manage signs. It affects what people can say on signs. It affects how towns balance free speech and public order."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 17-45"}]},{"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/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"slug":"2014-13-502-reed-v-town-of-gilbert","term":"2014","title":"Does a town sign law that treats political signs differently from other signs violate the First Amendment?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 17-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-502_2034.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 17-45"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}