October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1164
Does the First Amendment bar government-funded beef ads?
Producers argue the government must fund beef ads. Opponents claim this forces private speech.
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
Mr. Garre argued the First Amendment allows government speech.
Mr. Tribe addressed questions about labeling government messages.
Mr. Kneedler explained the history of the beef industry depression.
Justice O'Connor asked how this case differs from United Foods.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Beef Promotion and Research Act funds beef ads. Producers pay fees to support this program. Opponents challenge the funding mechanism.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 1-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-45
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the beef ad program to continue.
the opposing sides want the mandatory fees struck down.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 1-19
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the First Amendment allows government speech.
the opposing sides argue the program compels private speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 1-19
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the speech remains government speech without a label.
Justice Stevens asked if meat is fungible across different cuts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-1
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of government-funded commercial speech. It affects how the government can support agricultural markets. It clarifies the boundary between public and private expression.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 1-19
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 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 1-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 1-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-1
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 20, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 1-19
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.