{"argument_date":"2014-12-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2014-12-01T00:00:00Z","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/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","paragraphs":["Elonis argued the First Amendment protects speech unless the speaker truly intends to threaten.","The government argued a reasonable person's interpretation proves the speaker intended a threat.","justice_question"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 38-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 36-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 42-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 22-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 34-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 34-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 20-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 4-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-22"}]}],"caption":"Elonis v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.462589Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.484929Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether criminal intent requires proof of the speaker's actual state of mind or if a reasonable person's interpretation suffices.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 38-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 36-40"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2014-12-01T00:00:00Z","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/13-983.html","primary_docket":"13-983","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T20:16:24.663523Z","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":["Elonis argues the First Amendment protects speech unless the speaker truly intends to threaten. The government argues a reasonable person's interpretation proves intent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 38-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 36-40"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2014."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 20-22"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Elonis wants the conviction overturned because he did not truly intend to threaten.","The government wants the conviction upheld because a reasonable person would view the words as threats."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 38-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 36-40"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Elonis argues the First Amendment requires proof of the speaker's actual intent to threaten.","The government argues a reasonable person's interpretation of the words establishes the necessary intent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 38-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 36-40"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked how a reasonable person's interpretation differs from the defendant's intent.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if online anger posts count as therapeutic rather than threatening."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 36-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 42-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 22-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 34-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 34-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 20-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 4-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-22"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the legal standard for prosecuting online speech as threats. It determines when words become criminal acts. It balances free expression against public safety. It sets a precedent for interpreting intent in digital communications."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 38-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 36-40"}]},{"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 36-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 36-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 42-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 22-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 34-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 34-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 20-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 4-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 48-22"}]}],"slug":"2014-13-983-elonis-v-united-states","term":"2014","title":"Does a speaker intend a threat if a reasonable person would interpret the words that way?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 38-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 38-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 36-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-983_hejm.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 36-40"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}