{"argument_date":"2017-10-04T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-10-04T00:00:00Z","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/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Amunson argued that defendants retain the statutory right to appeal a conviction during plea bargaining.","Mr. Feigin contended that Rule 11(a)(2) mandates a conditional plea to preserve statutory challenges.","Justice Ginsburg questioned whether statute of limitations claims fit within the rule's scope.","Justice Alito noted that interlocutory appeals protect certain rights, asking if this applies here."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 32-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 54-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 54-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 56-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-24"}]}],"caption":"Class v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.424343Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.436715Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether entering a guilty plea forfeits a defendant's right to challenge the underlying criminal statute.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 56-26"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-10-04T00:00:00Z","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/16-424.html","primary_docket":"16-424","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:34:15.002839Z","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 scope of Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11(a)(2). The rule governs how defendants preserve legal challenges while pleading guilty. The core conflict involves the tension between finality and the right to appeal statutory defects."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 56-26"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 4, 2017."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 28-30"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to allow an appeal of the statute's validity despite a guilty plea.","The government wants the Court to hold that a guilty plea waives the right to challenge the statute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 56-26"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that the right to appeal a conviction survives a guilty plea under the statute.","The government argues that Rule 11(a)(2) requires a conditional plea to preserve a statutory challenge."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 56-26"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked how a defendant preserves a challenge to a substantive crime committed in 1991.","Justice Alito asked if rights protected by interlocutory appeals fall within the Official doctrine."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 32-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 54-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 54-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-24"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This issue determines whether defendants can challenge the constitutionality of criminal statutes after pleading guilty. It affects the finality of plea agreements and the scope of appellate review. The outcome shapes the balance between judicial efficiency and individual rights."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 56-26"}]},{"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 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 32-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 42-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 54-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 54-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 44-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 28-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 8-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 8-24"}]}],"slug":"2017-16-424-class-v-united-states","term":"2017","title":"Can a guilty plea waive the right to appeal a statute's validity?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 56-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-424_8l8c.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 56-26"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}