October Term 2020 · Docket 19-863
Does a split notice to appear satisfy the law?
Immigration officials split required details across two documents. the sides that brought the case argue this violates the statute. The government claims the split is legal.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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. Zimmer argued the statute text unambiguously requires a specific notice document.
Mr. Zimmer claimed the government admits it can chop information up however it wants.
Mr. Yang argued the Board adopted the best reading of the statute.
Mr. Yang stated the text supports providing notice in two documents.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether immigration law requires one document for all hearing details. the sides that brought the case want a single notice. The government wants to use two documents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2020.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-51
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to require one document for all hearing details.
The government wants the Court to allow hearing details in two documents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-25
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute text demands a specific, single notice document.
The government argues the statute permits written notice in two separate documents.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-25
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if a 95 percent likelihood of accuracy is sufficient.
Justice Alito asked if a 99 percent likelihood of accuracy is sufficient.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-35
Why it matters
This case defines the minimum paperwork for immigration hearings. It determines if officials can split critical legal details. It affects how many people receive proper notice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-25
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 31-55 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 31-11 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 31-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 53-53 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 53-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-51 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-35
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-9 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 39-25
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.