{"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/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Findley argued that the United States does not hold title to these waters. He stated that private waters are not public lands. He contended the Park Service cannot regulate them under the Organic Act.","Ms. Botstein argued that understanding the law requires understanding remote Alaska. She noted that rivers serve as the only roads in vast wilderness areas. She emphasized the practical necessity of these waterways for local communities.","Mr. Kneedler identified two statutes that he believes are crucial to understanding the law at issue. He argued these statutes provide important context for the provisions under review."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 15-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 30-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 26-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 26-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 5-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 34-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 34-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 32-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 30-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 30-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 6-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 28-30"}]}],"caption":"Sturgeon v. Frost","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.524011Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.527845Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal law allows the Park Service to regulate private waterways within national monuments.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 34-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 34-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 32-29"}],"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/17-949.html","primary_docket":"17-949","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:09:16.366258Z","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 authority over private lands in Alaska. the side that brought the case argues the Park Service lacks jurisdiction over private waters. the opposing side argues the agency must regulate these areas to fulfill statutory duties."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 34-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 34-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 32-29"}]},{"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 5, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 30-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 30-31"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to limit the Park Service authority over private waters.","the opposing side wants the Court to uphold the Park Service authority over private waters."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 34-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 34-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 32-29"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the United States lacks title to these waters. Therefore, they are not public lands. The Park Service cannot regulate them.","the opposing side argues the statute places duties on the government. The Park Service must regulate these areas to meet those obligations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 34-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 34-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 32-29"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked how the Park Service fulfills statutory duties if it cannot regulate these lands.","Justice Kagan asked how the federalism argument applies to agency authority in this context."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 15-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 30-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 26-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 26-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 5-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 30-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 30-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 6-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 28-30"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between federal agency power and private property rights in remote Alaska. It determines whether the government can regulate private waterways within national monuments. The outcome shapes the balance of federal and state authority over natural resources."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 34-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 34-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 32-29"}]},{"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 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 15-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 28-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 28-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 30-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 26-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 26-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 5-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 6-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 30-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 30-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 6-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 28-30"}]}],"slug":"2018-17-949-sturgeon-v-frost","term":"2018","title":"Does the Park Service regulate private waters in Alaska?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 14-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 14-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 34-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 34-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/17-949_758b.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 32-29"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}