October Term 2006 · Docket 05-547
Does a state drug crime count as a federal aggravated felony?
the sides that brought the case argue state drug crimes are not federal aggravated felonies. The government disagrees.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. Kneedler stated two requirements for a state drug offense to be an aggravated felony.
He said the conduct must be punishable under federal law and be a felony.
Mr. Long defined a drug-trafficking crime as a felony punishable under federal statutes.
He emphasized that the term punishable is a key term in the definition.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if state drug crimes are federal aggravated felonies. This status affects immigration removal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the state drug crime excluded from federal aggravated felony status.
The government wants the state drug crime included as a federal aggravated felony.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-5
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the state crime lacks the specific federal statutory elements.
The government argues the state crime matches the federal definition of a drug trafficking crime.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-5
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked how the phrase illicit trafficking adds meaning to the statute.
Justice Alito asked if any state trafficking offenses fall outside the federal definition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-21
Why it matters
This dispute determines if state drug convictions trigger federal immigration penalties. It defines the scope of federal aggravated felony status.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-5
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 39-45 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-21
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 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 31-15 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 31-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-5
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.