{"argument_date":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","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/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","paragraphs":["The Forest Service advocate stated the Act charges the Secretary of the Interior with overall trail administration.","The conservation advocate argued the Park Service lists the trail as a unit of the Park System.","justice_question_contexts"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 20-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 16-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 16-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 36-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 36-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 54-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 54-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-26"}]}],"caption":"United States Forest Service v. Cowpasture River Preservation Ass'n","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.284009Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The Forest Service and conservation groups dispute whether the Trails Act transfers all land under the Appalachian Trail to the Park Service.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 36-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 36-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 54-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 54-18"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-02-24T00:00:00Z","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/18-1584.html","primary_docket":"18-1584","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:34:25.484970Z","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 Forest Service argues the Trails Act only assigns overall trail administration to the Park Service. It claims the Act does not transfer ownership of the land beneath the path. Conservation groups argue the Act converts all traversed land into Park Service units. They contend the Park Service manages the trail as a distinct national park unit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 36-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 36-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 54-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 54-18"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 24, 2020."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-24"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The Forest Service wants the Court to affirm that the Trails Act does not transfer land ownership to the Park Service.","The conservation groups want the Court to rule that the Trails Act converts all trail land into Park Service units."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 36-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 36-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 54-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 54-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The Forest Service argues the statute assigns only administrative duties to the Park Service without changing land ownership.","The conservation groups argue the statute treats the trail as a distinct unit of the National Park System."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 36-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 36-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 54-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 54-18"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked if walking on the trail means walking on land.","Justice Kagan asked if the Forest Service would be notified if a tree fell on the path."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 20-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 16-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 16-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-26"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether the Park Service controls the land beneath the Appalachian Trail. It defines the scope of federal land management authority. It clarifies the legal status of trails within the national park system."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 36-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 36-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 54-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 54-18"}]},{"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 20-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 20-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 40-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 40-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 16-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 16-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 20-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 20-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 48-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 48-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 50-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-26"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-1584-united-states-forest-service-v-cowpasture-river-preservation-ass-n","term":"2019","title":"Does the Trails Act transfer all land under the Appalachian Trail to the Park Service?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 36-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 36-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 26-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 54-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1584_onkq.pdf","page_label":"file page 53, lines 54-18"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}