{"argument_date":"2017-02-27T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-02-27T00:00:00Z","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/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Fisher argued the key term is the word abuse.","Mr. Kedem argued the Attorney General controls statutory interpretation.","justice_question_1"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, 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/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 30-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 48-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 42-42"}]}],"caption":"Esquivel-Quintana v. Sessions","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.819737Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.825269Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether courts must define this term using state laws or federal standards.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 48-22"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-02-27T00:00:00Z","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/16-54.html","primary_docket":"16-54","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:44:18.198238Z","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 how courts should interpret a specific immigration statute term."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 48-22"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 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/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the court to define the term using state laws.","The government wants the court to defer to the agency interpretation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 48-22"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the term requires a generic definition based on state laws.","The government argues the agency has authority to interpret the statute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 48-22"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked why the rule of lenity applies before other tools.","Justice Kagan asked why this term is not a cross-reference like others."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 46-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 30-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 42-42"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This interpretation determines how courts treat similar immigration cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 48-22"}]},{"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 11, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 12-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, 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/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 30-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 46-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 12-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 36-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 42-42"}]}],"slug":"2016-16-54-esquivel-quintana-v-sessions","term":"2016","title":"Does the phrase sexual abuse of a minor require a generic federal definition?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 18-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/16-54_7l48.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 48-22"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}