October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1034
Does a drug paraphernalia conviction make a noncitizen removable?
The dispute centers on whether a state drug paraphernalia conviction triggers federal removal.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Ms. Kovner asserts two independent reasons for removal.
Mr. Laramore claims the BIA abandoned longstanding practice.
Justice Alito probes the statutory text's grammatical structure.
Justice Breyer questions the logical consequence of the argument.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-16
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal removal statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-14
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
What each side wants
Ms. Kovner seeks removal based on the conviction.
Mr. Laramore seeks to keep the side that brought the case in the country.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-14
What each side says
Ms. Kovner argues the conviction permits removal.
Mr. Laramore argues the BIA changed the removability analysis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-14
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asks what the statutory phrase modifies.
Justice Breyer asks why the opposing side loses the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-16
Why it matters
The outcome defines the reach of federal removal laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-14
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 4, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-46 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-16
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 25, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-4 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-14 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-14
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.