{"argument_date":"2017-11-27T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2017-11-27T00:00:00Z","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/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","paragraphs":["Allyson Ho argued that courts have adjudicated patent disputes for four hundred years.","Ho claimed Congress improperly transferred this judicial power to an executive tribunal.","Ho stated that the Patent Trial and Appeal Board has five unusual features.","Justice Ginsburg questioned whether the Patent Office can correct its own errors under Article III."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 53-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 53-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-23"}]}],"caption":"Oil States Energy Services, LLC v. Greene's Energy Group, LLC","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.182017Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.187458Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Oil States argues the Patent Trial and Appeal Board violates the Constitution by cancelling patents. Greene's Energy defends the board's authority to review patent validity.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-33"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2017-11-27T00:00:00Z","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/16-712.html","primary_docket":"16-712","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:28:56.674681Z","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 tests whether Congress can assign patent cancellation to executive branch judges. Oil States claims this power belongs to Article III courts. Greene's Energy argues the board acts as a valid public rights tribunal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-33"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 2017."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 39-41"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Oil States wants the Supreme Court to strike down the inter partes review process.","Greene's Energy wants the Supreme Court to uphold the board's authority to cancel patents."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Oil States argues that cancelling a patent takes away private property rights.","Greene's Energy argues that patent validity is a public right that executive judges can review."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-33"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if the Patent Office has an error correction mechanism within Article III.","Justice Kagan asked about the role of inter partes reexamination in correcting errors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 53-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 53-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-23"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines who holds the power to cancel patents. It affects the stability of private property rights in technology. It defines the boundary between executive and judicial power."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 25-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 45-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 45-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 19-33"}]},{"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 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 53-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 53-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 51-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-23"}]}],"slug":"2017-16-712-oil-states-energy-services-llc-v-greene-s-energy-group-llc","term":"2017","title":"Can executive branch judges cancel private patents?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2017/16-712_7kh7.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 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