October Term 2013 · Docket 13-316
Does bank fraud require intent to defraud the bank itself?
The dispute centers on whether a defendant must intend to defraud a bank or if intent to defraud a third party suffices when bank funds are involved.
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
Mr. Russell argued the statute requires intent to defraud a bank.
Mr. Yang argued the statute covers schemes affecting banks indirectly.
questions_and_answers
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-19
- 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 41-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal bank fraud statutes. It asks if the law covers schemes targeting third parties that indirectly affect banks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 1, 2014.
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 61, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-43
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to require specific intent to defraud a bank.
The government wants the Court to accept intent to defraud a third party as sufficient.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-13
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues Section 1344 requires intent to defraud the bank directly.
The government argues the statute covers schemes that affect banks through third parties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-13
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if clause (2) covers representations made to others.
Justice Ginsburg asked if two checks were paid by the drawing bank.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-19
- 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 41-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
Why it matters
This defines the reach of federal bank fraud laws. It determines which financial schemes face federal prosecution. It impacts how prosecutors charge check fraud cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-13
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-19
- 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 41-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-5
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 27, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-47 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 7-13
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.