{"argument_date":"2021-10-13T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2021-10-13T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2021","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Katyal cited the statutory text excluding non-uniformed service payments.","Ms. Reaves explained that dual-status technicians receive two separate payment streams.","questions_and_argument_context"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 53-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"}]}],"caption":"Babcock v. Kijakazi","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:18.296206Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T23:57:03.418731Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"}],"case_status":"decided","dek":"A retired technician argues his civilian pay qualifies for a Social Security exception. The government says only military pay counts.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2021-10-13T00:00:00Z","maturity":"post_opinion","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2021","official_disposition_urls":["https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/595us1r6_ihdk.pdf"],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/20-480.html","primary_docket":"20-480","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:04:32.642979Z","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":["Babcock v. Kijakazi"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 13, 2021."],"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/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The technician wants his civilian pay to count as uniformed service.","The government wants only his military pay to count as uniformed service."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The technician argues the statute covers all his service payments.","The government argues the statute excludes civilian-based payments."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Thomas asked why the technician receives both civilian and military pensions.","Chief Justice Roberts asked about the two different payment statuses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 53-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines which payments qualify for a Social Security benefit exception. It affects how dual-status technicians calculate their retirement income."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}]},{"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 23-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 53-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"}]}],"slug":"2021-20-480-babcock-v-kijakazi","term":"2021","title":"Does a dual-status technician's civilian pay count as uniformed service?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/20-480_2cp3.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-15"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":"latest_argument_date","updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}