{"argument_date":"2016-03-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2016-03-01T00:00:00Z","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/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","paragraphs":["Nichols' lawyer argued federal law did not apply to overseas moves before recently.","The government's lawyer argued the duty to update records is continuous.","Justice Roberts asked if the law leaves unregistration to states but not registration.","Justice Sotomayor questioned if the government used the wrong legal basis for extradition."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 10-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 10-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 52-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 18-22"}]}],"caption":"Nichols v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.514880Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Nichols argues federal law lacks power to mandate updates while overseas. The government claims the duty to keep records current persists.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 10-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 10-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2016-03-01T00:00:00Z","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/15-5238.html","primary_docket":"15-5238","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:04:40.776857Z","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":["Nichols moved to the Philippines. He did not update his U.S. registration. The government charged him with a federal crime. Nichols claims federal law only applies when he returns. The government says the duty to update follows him."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 10-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 10-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2016."],"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/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Nichols wants the Court to rule that federal law does not apply while he is abroad.","The government wants the Court to rule that the duty to update registration persists overseas."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 10-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 10-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Nichols argues federal law only requires registration upon return to the United States.","The government argues the duty to keep registration current applies regardless of location."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 10-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 10-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if the government chose the wrong law for extradition.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the case involves both federal and state requirements."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 52-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 18-22"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the geographic reach of federal sex offender registration laws. It determines whether the government can prosecute offenders for failing to update records while living abroad. The outcome shapes federal enforcement power over citizens in foreign countries."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 10-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 10-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"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 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 12-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 18-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 52-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 18-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 18-22"}]}],"slug":"2015-15-5238-nichols-v-united-states","term":"2015","title":"Does federal law require sex offenders to update registration while abroad?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 10-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 10-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/15-5238_0pm1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}