October Term 2012 · Docket 11-8976
Does the government prove conspiracy withdrawal?
Smith argues the government must disprove withdrawal. The government says it need not.
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
Kramer argued the government need not disprove withdrawal.
Sotomayor questioned the logic of extinguishing liability.
Scalia asked if withdrawal is a crime element.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- 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 15-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Smith seeks a jury instruction on withdrawal. The government seeks to avoid that burden.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2012.
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 59, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-7
What each side wants
Smith wants the government to disprove withdrawal.
The government wants to avoid disproving withdrawal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-15
What each side says
Smith argues withdrawal is an element of the crime.
The government argues withdrawal is not an element.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-15
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if withdrawal is an element.
Justice Sotomayor asked why the government must prove amnesty.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-3
Why it matters
This case defines the government's burden in conspiracy trials. It shapes how prosecutors prove criminal intent. It affects the rights of all federal defendants.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-15
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 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-9 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 39-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 35-3
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 11-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 11-45 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 11-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 9-15
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.