October Term 2013 · Docket 12-1371
Does a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction require physical force?
The dispute centers on whether federal law defines violence as requiring physical force or merely causing fear.
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 government advocate stated the law aims to protect battered women and children.
The defendant advocate argued the statute explicitly requires the use of physical force.
justice_question_contexts
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- 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 30, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of a federal firearms ban. The government argues the ban covers all domestic violence convictions. The defendant argues the ban requires proof of physical force.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 15, 2014.
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 57, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-9
What each side wants
The government wants to keep the defendant's firearms ban in place.
The defendant wants the court to strike down his firearms ban.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-3
What each side says
The government argues that any domestic violence conviction triggers the federal ban.
The defendant argues that the statute requires proof of physical force.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-3
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if punching a spouse constitutes violence.
Justice Sotomayor asked if pinching or shoving counts as violence in all situations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-5
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of federal firearms restrictions for domestic violence offenders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-3
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 19-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-21
- 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 15-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-5
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 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-3
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.