{"argument_date":"2015-11-30T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-11-30T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case claims the jury instruction was obviously erroneous.","The government asserts the jury found the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.","justice_question"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 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8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 30-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 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8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 8-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 8-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 8-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 44-1"}]}],"caption":"Musacchio v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.647961Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.682361Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a conviction stands if the jury followed an erroneous instruction.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 8-6"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-11-30T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/14-1095.html","primary_docket":"14-1095","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:13:07.109111Z","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 asks if a conviction survives when the jury instruction was legally incorrect."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 8-6"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2015."],"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/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 14-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 14-22"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned due to the erroneous instruction.","The government wants the conviction upheld based on the jury's verdict."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 8-6"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the erroneous instruction infected the jury's decision.","The government argues the jury found the required elements beyond a reasonable doubt."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 8-6"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked what else the jury needed to find unanimously.","Justice Scalia questioned if the jury's finding of guilt on both elements suffices."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 26-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 50-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 30-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 8-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 8-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 44-1"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines how courts review jury verdicts when instructions contain legal errors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 8-6"}]},{"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 10, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 26-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 50-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 30-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 50-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 50-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 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48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 8-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1095_k536.pdf","page_label":"file page 61, lines 8-6"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}