October Term 2015 · Docket 14-361
Does a Hobbs Act conspiracy require obtaining property from a third party?
The dispute centers on whether a defendant can violate the Hobbs Act by conspiring with property owners to take their own property.
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
Ethan Davis argued the Hobbs Act requires obtaining property from another person.
Davis stated Ocasio was charged with taking property from the owners themselves.
Davis claimed the plain language of the statute resolves the case in his favor.
Davis argued a unity of purpose obscures the requirement to take from another.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 44-22 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 44-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-12
- 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 28-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-38
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Ocasio faces charges for conspiring with repair shop owners. The government claims this violates the Hobbs Act. Ocasio argues the law requires taking property from a third party.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 44-22 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 44-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-46
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 2015.
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 57, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-50
What each side wants
Ocasio wants the conviction overturned because the law requires taking property from a third party.
The United States wants the conviction upheld because the conspiracy satisfied all statutory elements.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 44-22 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 44-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-46
What each side says
Ocasio argues the plain language of the Hobbs Act requires obtaining property from another person.
The United States argues a conspiracy to commit an offense satisfies the statute even if the victim is a co-conspirator.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 44-22 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 44-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-46
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if the phrase any woman is broader than another woman.
Justice Kagan asked if it is natural to say a transported woman is transporting any woman.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-38
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal extortion laws. It clarifies who qualifies as a victim under the statute. The outcome shapes how prosecutors charge conspiracy cases involving property owners.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 44-22 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 44-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-46
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 52-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 52-12
- 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 28-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-32 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 44-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-38
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 44-22 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 44-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 44-22 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 44-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 36-46
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.