{"argument_date":"2017-10-11T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-10-11T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2017","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Bishop stated the Clean Water Act defines seven narrow appellate categories.","Mr. Murphy argued Congress examined specific delegations of authority in statutes.","Ms. Kovner explained broad water definitions impose broader limitations on conduct."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 8-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 32-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 32-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 36-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-15"}]}],"caption":"National Assn. of Mfrs. v. Department of Defense","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.432890Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Manufacturers argue district courts must review water definitions. The government insists courts of appeals handle these cases.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 32-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 32-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 36-36"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-10-11T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2017","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/16-299.html","primary_docket":"16-299","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:31:29.938100Z","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 dispute centers on which federal court reviews challenges to the definition of waters of the United States. Manufacturers claim district courts hold this authority. The government asserts courts of appeals possess exclusive jurisdiction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 32-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 32-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 36-36"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 11, 2017."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Manufacturers want district courts to hear water definition challenges.","The government wants courts of appeals to hear these challenges."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 32-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 32-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 36-36"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Manufacturers argue the statute omits water definitions from the appellate list.","The government argues the statute implies appellate jurisdiction for these issues."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 32-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 32-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 36-36"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked if Congress had a specific theory behind the list.","Justice Ginsburg asked where combined questions belong in the court system."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 8-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines which federal courts handle water definition disputes. It affects how quickly parties receive judicial review. It shapes the procedural path for environmental compliance challenges."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 32-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 32-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 36-36"}]},{"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 33-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 8-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 22-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 12-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 17-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-15"}]}],"slug":"2017-16-299-national-assn-of-mfrs-v-department-of-defense","term":"2017","title":"Does the Clean Water Act require district court review of water definitions?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 32-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 32-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 13-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 13-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 18-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 36-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-299_3eah.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 36-36"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}