October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1394
Does the honest services fraud statute cover breach of fiduciary duty?
The dispute centers on whether federal law criminalizes a fiduciary's failure to disclose conflicts of interest.
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. Srinivasan argued the Enron collapse impacted the Houston economy.
Mr. Dreeben stated the government needs proof of a known duty.
questions_detail
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the federal honest services fraud statute. It asks if the law covers breaches of fiduciary duty beyond bribery.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 25-29
What each side wants
the side that brought the case seeks reversal of the fraud conviction.
The government seeks affirmation of the fraud conviction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-15
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute does not cover undisclosed conflicts of interest.
The government argues the statute covers any breach of fiduciary duty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-15
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why a fair jury could not be found.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if jurors could fairly evaluate the law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
Why it matters
The outcome defines the criminal reach of federal fraud laws. It determines whether fiduciaries face federal prosecution for nondisclosure. This shapes corporate governance and white-collar crime enforcement nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-15
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 3-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 5-7
- 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 21-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
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 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 21-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 21-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-23 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-15
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.