October Term 2014 · Docket 13-9026
Does forcing a victim to walk a few feet trigger a bank robbery enhancement?
the side that brought the case argues the statute requires significant movement. The government says any forced movement counts.
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's counsel stated the provision targets extreme conduct.
Government counsel argued the statute prescribes greater punishment for forced accompaniment.
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Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 32-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 32-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-48
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the meaning of forced accompaniment in federal bank robbery law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 32-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 32-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 18-50
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-5
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the enhancement removed for minor movement.
The government wants the enhancement applied to any movement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 32-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 32-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 18-50
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statute targets extreme conduct like murder.
The government argues the text covers any forced accompaniment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 32-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 32-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 18-50
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how much distance qualifies as accompaniment.
Justice Scalia questioned whether a spatial component exists in the law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-48
Why it matters
The ruling defines the threshold for enhanced bank robbery penalties.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 32-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 32-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 18-50
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 48-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-48
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 32-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 32-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 18-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 32-18 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 32-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 18-50 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 18-50
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.