{"argument_date":"2017-01-17T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-01-17T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Kneedler argued the lower court erred in finding the statute vague.","Mr. Rosenkranz argued the statute shares critical flaws with the clause struck down in Johnson.","Justice Sotomayor noted the difficulty in defining the ordinary crime for risk assessment."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 30-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 30-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 42-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 42-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 20-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 42-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 52-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 52-4"}]}],"caption":"Lynch v. Dimaya","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.882765Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a federal statute defining violent crimes is unconstitutionally vague.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-01-17T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/15-1498.html","primary_docket":"15-1498","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T19:52:21.444449Z","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":["This case tests the clarity of a federal law defining violent crimes. The government argues the law is clear. The defendant argues the law is vague."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 17, 2017."],"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/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the Court to reject the vagueness claim and uphold the conviction.","The defendant wants the Court to find the statute unconstitutionally vague and overturn the conviction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the statute is clear because it lists specific violent acts.","The defendant argues the statute is vague because it requires judges to guess the nature of a crime."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked why the statute would not cause confusion in applying the law.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the government previously argued the statute was vulnerable after the Johnson decision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 30-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 30-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 42-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 42-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 20-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 42-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 52-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 52-4"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether federal courts can consistently apply the crime of violence definition. It affects how prosecutors charge violent offenses under federal law. It impacts the rights of defendants facing these specific charges."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}]},{"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 30-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 30-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 42-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 42-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 20-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 42-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 52-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 52-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 52-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 52-4"}]}],"slug":"2016-15-1498-lynch-v-dimaya","term":"2016","title":"Is the federal crime of violence definition too vague to convict?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 20-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 20-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1498_m647.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-14"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}