October Term 2016 · Docket 16-54
Does the phrase sexual abuse of a minor require a generic federal definition?
The dispute centers on whether courts must define this term using state laws or federal standards.
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. Fisher argued the key term is the word abuse.
Mr. Kedem argued the Attorney General controls statutory interpretation.
justice_question_1
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-42
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks how courts should interpret a specific immigration statute term.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 48-22
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 27, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-26
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the court to define the term using state laws.
The government wants the court to defer to the agency interpretation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 48-22
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the term requires a generic definition based on state laws.
The government argues the agency has authority to interpret the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 48-22
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked why the rule of lenity applies before other tools.
Justice Kagan asked why this term is not a cross-reference like others.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-42
Why it matters
This interpretation determines how courts treat similar immigration cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 48-22
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 11, lines 12-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 12-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 40-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 40-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 42-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 42-42
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 16-14 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 48-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 16-14 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 16-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 48-22 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 48-22
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.