October Term 2010 · Docket 09-11311
Does fleeing a police car count as a violent felony?
The dispute centers on whether Indiana's vehicular flight statute qualifies as a violent felony under federal law.
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
the side that brought the case argues the statute covers low-risk conduct.
The government argues the statute inherently involves serious danger.
Justice Kennedy requests examples of violations lacking serious risk.
Justice Alito questions if a conviction proves broad category risk.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-40
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Supreme Court examines if fleeing from police constitutes a violent felony. This status triggers enhanced prison sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act. The case tests the definition of violent conduct in federal sentencing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 26-50
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 12, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-24
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to reject the violent felony classification.
The government wants the Court to affirm the violent felony classification.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 26-50
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute covers offenses lacking necessary risk.
The government argues the statute inherently involves serious risk.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 26-50
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asks if the advocate knows the Hape v. State case.
Justice Kennedy questions the requirement to stop immediately during flight.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-40
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of enhanced federal sentencing. It determines which state crimes trigger longer prison terms. The outcome shapes how courts interpret violent felony statutes nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 26-50
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 3, lines 52-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-40
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 24, lines 38-32 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 26-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 38-32 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 38-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 26-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 26-50
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.