October Term 2012 · Docket 11-702
Does a state drug conviction count as an aggravated felony for removal?
The dispute centers on whether a state drug conviction qualifies as an aggravated felony for immigration removal.
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
the side that brought the case argued the state law lacks specific quantity or payment requirements.
The government argued the state law broadly covers drug distribution activities.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- 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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if a state drug conviction counts as an aggravated felony for removal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 10, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the conviction to avoid aggravated felony status.
The government wants the conviction to remain an aggravated felony.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the state law does not require large amounts or payment.
The government argues the state law covers all drug distribution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked about the intent to distribute under federal law.
Justice Sotomayor asked if an immigration judge must ignore a guilty plea admission.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-15
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of aggravated felony status for state drug convictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
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 19-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-3
- 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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-15
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 1, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-35
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.