{"argument_date":"2020-11-02T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-11-02T00:00:00Z","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/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","paragraphs":["Guarnieri argued the drafts are privileged.","Narayan argued the drafts explain final decisions.","Roberts questioned the definition of finality.","Alito asked where to draw the line."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 24-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 18-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 18-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 46-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 46-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 54-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 54-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 54-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-24"}]}],"caption":"United States Fish and Wildlife Serv. v. Sierra Club, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:18.873709Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:18.898735Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T23:56:29.594610Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"}],"case_status":"decided","dek":"Sierra Club wants to see draft opinions. The Fish and Wildlife Service claims they are privileged.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 54-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 54-52"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-11-02T00:00:00Z","maturity":"post_opinion","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2020","official_disposition_urls":["https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/592us2r18_7l48.pdf"],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/19-547.html","primary_docket":"19-547","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:25:11.657046Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The dispute centers on whether draft biological opinions are final decisions. The Service argues they are predecisional. Sierra Club argues they carry legal weight."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 54-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 54-52"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 2, 2020."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 54-6"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The Service wants to keep the drafts secret.","Sierra Club wants to read the drafts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 54-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 54-52"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The Service argues drafts are not final decisions.","Sierra Club argues drafts have legal consequences."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 54-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 54-52"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked why drafts lack coercive effect.","Justice Thomas asked if anything short of sending is non-final."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 24-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 18-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 18-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 46-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 46-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 54-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-24"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when agency advice becomes final. It shapes public access to environmental decisions. It clarifies the scope of the deliberative process privilege."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 54-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 54-52"}]},{"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 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 24-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 18-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 18-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 46-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 46-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 8-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 30-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 18-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 18-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 14-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 14-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 40-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 54-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 54-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 12-24"}]}],"slug":"2020-19-547-united-states-fish-and-wildlife-serv-v-sierra-club-inc","term":"2020","title":"Does a draft biological opinion count as a final agency decision?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 52-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 52-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 54-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-547_c07d.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 54-52"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":"latest_argument_date","updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}