{"argument_date":"2018-10-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2018-10-01T00:00:00Z","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/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","paragraphs":["Weyerhaeuser's advocate stated the dusky gopher frog is critically endangered. He emphasized the species faces serious risk of extinction.","The government's advocate argued Congress amended the Endangered Species Act in 1978. He stated the amendment narrowed the concept of critical habitat.","The government's advocate referenced the Court's decision in Hill. He noted the amendment responded to that decision and early regulations."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 30-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 30-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 29-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 29-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 10-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 6-9"}]}],"caption":"Weyerhaeuser Co. v. United States Fish and Wildlife Serv.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.586670Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Weyerhaeuser argues the Endangered Species Act forbids designating land that cannot currently support the dusky gopher frog.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 29-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 29-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2018-10-01T00:00:00Z","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/17-71.html","primary_docket":"17-71","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:13:40.647226Z","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 whether the Endangered Species Act allows agencies to designate critical habitat in areas where the species no longer exists. Weyerhaeuser contends the statute requires the land to currently support the species. The government argues the statute permits designating areas that need improvements to support the species."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 29-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 29-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 1, 2018."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Weyerhaeuser wants the Court to reverse the lower court's action. It seeks a ruling that the agency cannot designate critical habitat where the species does not currently survive.","The government wants the Court to affirm the lower court's action. It seeks a ruling that the agency can designate critical habitat in areas that need improvements to support the species."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 29-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 29-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Weyerhaeuser argues the statute requires critical habitat to currently support the species. It contends the agency cannot designate land where the species is absent.","The government argues the statute allows designating areas that need reasonable improvements. It contends the agency can designate land even if the species does not currently survive there."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 29-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 29-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked where in the statute the government finds its position. She questioned the statutory basis for the government's argument.","Justice Kagan asked why the statute would prefer extinction over designating an area. She noted the result seemed counterintuitive to her."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 30-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 30-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 10-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 6-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of critical habitat designations. It determines whether agencies can protect species by designating land that currently lacks the species. The outcome shapes how agencies manage endangered species recovery efforts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 29-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 29-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-11"}]},{"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 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 30-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 30-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 8-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 26-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 26-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 10-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 23-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 6-9"}]}],"slug":"2018-17-71-weyerhaeuser-co-v-united-states-fish-and-wildlife-serv","term":"2018","title":"Can agencies designate critical habitat where a species no longer survives?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 29-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 29-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-71_b97c.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 16-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}