October Term 2003 · Docket 03-1027
Can the President detain a U.S. citizen as an enemy combatant without trial?
Jose Padilla challenges his military detention. The government claims presidential power allows this action.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Paul Clement argued the case differs from previous detention disputes.
He emphasized the specific legal questions raised by Padilla.
Ms. Martinez argued the nation remains governed by the rule of law.
She stated the government seeks unlimited presidential detention power. She argued Congress must define detention parameters first.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Jose Padilla, a U.S. citizen, faces military detention. The government claims presidential power allows this action. Padilla argues this violates his legal rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 28, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the President's detention power.
Padilla wants the Court to end his military detention.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
What each side says
The government argues the President has broad wartime detention authority.
Padilla argues Congress must define detention rules and procedures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
What the justices asked
Does the President have unlimited power to detain citizens?
Must Congress provide clear authorization for such detention?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of executive power during wartime. It determines whether citizens can be imprisoned without trial. It shapes the balance between security and liberty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 11-37 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 11-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-57 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-57
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.