October Term 2007 · Docket 06-694
Does describing child pornography violate federal law?
The government argues that describing illegal images is a crime. The defendant argues that describing them is protected speech.
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
General Clement argued that speech proposing unlawful transactions is unprotected. He stated that falsely proposing such transactions is also unprotected.
Mr. Diaz argued that the law carries severe penalties. He claimed the statute is vague and overbroad on its face.
Justice Roberts asked about a movie reviewer describing a film. He questioned if such a review violates the law.
Justice Ginsburg asked about a film showing a twelve-year-old. She questioned if the actor is a young adult.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of free speech. The government claims that describing child pornography is illegal. The defendant claims that describing it is protected expression. The Court must decide if the law is too broad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 30, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-13
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the law. It seeks to criminalize describing child pornography.
The defendant wants the Court to strike down the law. It seeks to protect speech about illegal materials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
What each side says
The government argues that proposing an unlawful transaction is not protected speech. It claims that falsely proposing such a transaction is also unprotected.
The defendant argues that the law is unconstitutionally vague. It claims the statute captures protected speech about materials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if describing a war crime film violates the statute. He questioned if a person describing such a film commits a crime.
Justice Souter asked about receiving unsolicited child pornography. He asked if reporting it to police violates the law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-3
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between illegal conduct and protected speech. It determines whether describing illegal images is a crime. The outcome shapes how citizens discuss sensitive materials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
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 11, lines 17-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-3
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 29, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-47
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.