{"argument_date":"2018-11-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2018-11-05T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2018","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Cooper argued the state ban is preempted by federal law.","Mr. Heytens argued the case involves obstacle preemption, not field preemption.","General Francisco argued Virginia can ban mining for safety reasons.","Justice Gorsuch questioned if mining is distinct from plant construction regulation."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 26-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 24-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 35-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 18-5"}]}],"caption":"Virginia Uranium, Inc. v. Warren","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.539464Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.552316Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Virginia argues state safety laws ban uranium mining. Virginia Uranium claims federal law preempts that ban.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 26-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 24-34"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2018-11-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2018","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/16-1275.html","primary_docket":"16-1275","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:09:37.947065Z","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":["Virginia Uranium seeks to mine uranium in Virginia. The state banned the activity citing safety concerns. The dispute centers on federal preemption of state mining regulations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 26-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 24-34"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 5, 2018."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 35-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Virginia Uranium wants the mining ban struck down as preempted.","Virginia wants the mining ban upheld as a valid safety measure."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 26-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 24-34"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Virginia Uranium argues federal law preempts state mining regulations.","Virginia argues state safety laws remain valid despite federal statutes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 26-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 24-34"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Gorsuch asked if mining differs from plant construction.","Justice Kavanaugh asked how to handle dual-purpose regulations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 35-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 18-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["State safety laws compete with federal energy regulations. This conflict affects mining operations nationwide. Clear rules determine who controls nuclear fuel extraction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 26-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 24-34"}]},{"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 4, lines 35-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 26-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 35-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 34-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 18-5"}]}],"slug":"2018-16-1275-virginia-uranium-inc-v-warren","term":"2018","title":"Can Virginia ban uranium mining under state safety laws?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 26-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 26-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 24-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/16-1275_7mip.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 24-34"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}