October Term 2018 · Docket 17-765
Does a mobile home count as a dwelling for federal sentencing?
The dispute centers on whether a mobile home qualifies as a dwelling under the Armed Career Criminal Act.
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
Ms. Ross argued that most states protected mobile homes in 1986.
Mr. Fisher argued that the government's definition would include Tennessee law.
Justice Gorsuch noted that empty cars differ from homes in risk.
Justice Sotomayor distinguished mobile homes from vehicles based on propulsion.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-30 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 6-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 6-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-6 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-14 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-34
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if a mobile home is a dwelling for federal sentencing purposes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-6 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-14 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-14
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 9, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 22-24
What each side wants
The government wants the mobile home to count as a dwelling.
The defendant wants the mobile home to not count as a dwelling.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-6 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-14 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-14
What each side says
The government argues that burglary laws have always protected all home types.
The defendant argues that a mobile home lacks the security of a fixed home.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-6 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-14 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-14
What the justices asked
Justice Gorsuch asked how many states had similar laws in 1986.
Justice Sotomayor asked what it means to adapt a structure for living.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 32-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-30 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 6-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 6-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-34
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal sentencing enhancements for career criminals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-6 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-14 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-14
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 10, lines 32-6 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 32-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-30 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 8-14 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 8-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 16-17 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 16-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 6-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 6-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 16-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-34
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 32, lines 9-6 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-14 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 9-6 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 9-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 22-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 22-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-14 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-14
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.