{"argument_date":"2020-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-10-13T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2020","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","paragraphs":["General Wall argued that Congress referred to punishments provided in the same code when drafting the statute.","Mr. Vladeck asserted that courts have consistently interpreted the military code to align with civilian Eighth Amendment protections since 1953.","justice_questions"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 26-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 50-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 14-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 14-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 8-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 8-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 50-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 22-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-28"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Briggs","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.065512Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.091592Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a military statute allowing unlimited prosecution time for capital offenses applies to rape cases where the death penalty is no longer sought.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 50-54"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-10-13T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2020","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-108.html","primary_docket":"19-108","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:26:29.402754Z","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 case tests the scope of a military law that removes time limits for prosecuting crimes punishable by death. One side argues this rule applies only to offenses where the death penalty remains a legal option. The other side claims the rule covers all crimes that were historically eligible for capital punishment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 50-54"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2020."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 6-8"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants the Court to uphold the lower court's ruling that the prosecution window remains open.","the opposing side wants the Court to reverse the lower court and dismiss the case due to the expired time limit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 50-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues that Congress intended the unlimited prosecution window to cover all offenses historically eligible for the death penalty.","the opposing side argues that the statute only applies to offenses where the death penalty is currently a legal punishment option."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 50-54"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked how the government reconciles its position with the decades-long absence of death penalty sentences in military rape cases.","Justice Thomas asked whether the statute of limitations argument stands independently from the Eighth Amendment question regarding the death penalty's applicability to the military."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 26-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 50-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 14-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 14-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 8-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 8-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 22-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-28"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether military prosecutors can bring charges for historical rape offenses indefinitely. It defines the scope of time limits for prosecuting serious crimes within the armed forces. The outcome shapes the legal rights of service members facing prosecution for past conduct."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 50-54"}]},{"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 18-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 18-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 28-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 28-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 38-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 38-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 26-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 26-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 50-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 14-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 14-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 8-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 8-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 8-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 8-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 22-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 20-28"}]}],"slug":"2020-19-108-united-states-v-briggs","term":"2020","title":"Does the military death penalty statute extend the prosecution window for rape cases?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 50-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-108_e1p3.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 50-54"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}