{"argument_date":"2020-01-14T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-01-14T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argued that the government misuses fraud statutes.","the side that brought the case claimed that wasting funds is not obtaining property.","The government argued that political gain constitutes private use.","The government contended that the official acted for personal benefit."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 55-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-9"}]}],"caption":"Kelly v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.407744Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.436308Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a public official commits fraud by diverting funds for political gain rather than personal profit.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 45-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-01-14T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/18-1059.html","primary_docket":"18-1059","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:36:20.628056Z","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 fraud statutes. The core issue is whether wasting public money qualifies as obtaining property."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 45-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2020."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 25-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the fraud conviction overturned.","The government wants the fraud conviction upheld."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 45-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues that wasting funds is not obtaining property.","The government argues that diverting funds for political gain is fraud."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 45-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked how wasting property fits the statute.","Justice Ginsburg asked why political benefit is not private use."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 55-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary of federal fraud power. It determines when public officials face federal charges for political decisions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 45-11"}]},{"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 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 55-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 45-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 11-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 11-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 11-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-9"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-1059-kelly-v-united-states","term":"2019","title":"Does wasting public funds count as obtaining property under federal fraud laws?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1059_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 45-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}