October Term 2012 · Docket 12-357
Does the Hobbs Act cover threats to secure future business commissions?
The dispute centers on whether a threat to withhold business counts as taking property under federal extortion law.
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 Hobbs Act is a property crime like larceny.
the side that brought the case claimed the law requires taking tangible property from a victim.
The government argued the statute covers intangible property interests.
The government stated that future commissions are a valid property interest.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-11
- 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 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Hobbs Act. The law bans using threats to obtain property from others. The core question is whether future business commissions count as property. the side that brought the case argues the law only covers tangible items. The government argues it covers intangible economic benefits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 2013.
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 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned because the threat did not take tangible property.
The government wants the conviction to stand because the threat secured future commissions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-49
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Hobbs Act is a property crime requiring tangible items.
The government argues the statute covers intangible benefits like future business fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-49
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the law requires taking property from the specific person threatened.
Justice Kennedy asked why prosecutors did not charge the case as taking future commissions directly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-11
- 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 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-13
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary of federal extortion law. It determines whether threats to secure future business deals are crimes. The outcome shapes how prosecutors handle business disputes involving threats. It clarifies what counts as property under federal statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-49
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 43-3 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-11
- 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 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-13
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 26, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 29-49
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.