{"argument_date":"2020-05-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-05-13T00:00:00Z","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/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","paragraphs":["General Weiser argued states can remove bribed or rebellious electors.","Mr. Harrow argued state rules are too rigid and costly.","chief_justice_roberts_asked_about_relatives_of_legislators_as_electors."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 32-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 54-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 54-28"}]}],"caption":"Colorado Dept. of State v. Baca","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.273067Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Colorado argues it can remove electors who vote against their pledge. Baca argues this power is unconstitutional.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-14"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-05-13T00:00:00Z","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/19-518.html","primary_docket":"19-518","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:29:00.636483Z","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 state power over presidential electors. Colorado claims it can remove electors who break their pledge. Baca claims this violates the Constitution. The Court must decide if states hold this removal authority."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-14"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on May 13, 2020."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-24"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Colorado wants the power to remove electors who break their pledge.","Baca wants the Court to strike down the state removal rule."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-14"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Colorado argues states have plenary authority to remove electors who betray the people.","Baca argues state rules are too rigid and lack necessary exceptions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-14"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if Baca disagrees with Washington's arguments.","Chief Justice Roberts asked if electors must be relatives of legislators."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 32-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 54-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 54-28"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines state control over presidential elections. It determines if states can enforce elector pledges. The outcome shapes the balance between state authority and federal constitutional limits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-14"}]},{"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 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 52-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 20-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 20-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 40-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 32-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 32-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 54-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 54-28"}]}],"slug":"2019-19-518-colorado-dept-of-state-v-baca","term":"2019","title":"Can states remove electors who break their pledge?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 16-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 16-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 26-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/19-518_fcgk.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 26-14"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}