{"argument_date":"2015-11-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-11-03T00:00:00Z","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/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues Section 1101(a)(43) includes state and foreign law violations.","The government argues Congress chose to make only federal arson an aggravated felony.","The government notes the federal arson statute carries a minimum five-year sentence.","Justice Alito questioned the statutory language describing the state offense in federal terms."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 10-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 52-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 46-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 26-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 26-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 30-20"}]}],"caption":"Torres v. Lynch","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.822748Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.843866Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether state arson laws qualify as aggravated felonies under federal immigration statutes.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 10-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 10-12"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-11-03T00:00:00Z","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/14-1096.html","primary_docket":"14-1096","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:21:26.257494Z","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 state arson convictions trigger federal immigration penalties. the side that brought the case argues state laws should count. The government argues only federal arson counts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 10-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 10-12"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-46"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the state arson conviction excluded from federal aggravated felony status.","The government wants the state arson conviction included as a federal aggravated felony."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 10-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 10-12"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues Congress intended state and foreign arson laws to count as aggravated felonies.","The government argues Congress specifically chose to limit aggravated felonies to federal arson statutes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 10-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 10-12"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if the side that brought the case's reading excludes serious state arson offenses.","Justice Kagan asked why the side that brought the case's theory creates an illogical inclusion and exclusion system."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 52-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 46-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 26-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 26-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 30-20"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines which state crimes trigger federal immigration penalties. It defines the scope of federal jurisdiction over state offenses. It impacts how courts classify state convictions for immigration purposes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 10-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 10-12"}]},{"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 46-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 42-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 52-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 46-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 26-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 26-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 30-20"}]}],"slug":"2015-14-1096-torres-v-lynch","term":"2015","title":"Does a state arson conviction count as a federal aggravated felony?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 10-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-1096_6478.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 10-12"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}