October Term 2007 · Docket 06-571
Does receiving a gun for drugs count as using it?
The dispute centers on whether accepting a firearm in a drug trade satisfies the federal statute's definition of using a gun.
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. Koch argued that receiving a gun does not constitute use under the statute.
Ms. Maynard argued that accepting a gun in a drug trade is using it.
Justice Alito questioned why Congress would penalize one party but not the other in a trade.
Justice Ginsburg noted that possession is also indictable under the amended statute.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of a federal firearms statute. the side that brought the case argues that receiving a gun does not count as using it. The government contends that accepting the gun in a drug trade is a form of use.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 9, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned because receiving a gun is not using it.
The government wants the conviction upheld because accepting a gun in a drug trade is using it.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that the statute requires active use, not passive receipt of a firearm.
The government argues that accepting a gun in exchange for drugs constitutes use under the law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why the danger of converting a gun to a weapon matters here.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the government should address the specific charging issue first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-25
Why it matters
This case defines the legal meaning of using a firearm in drug crimes. It determines the scope of federal penalties for gun-related offenses. It clarifies the boundary between possession and use in criminal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
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 49-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-25
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 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-21
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.