October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1410
Does prescribing outside standard practice violate federal law?
Doctors argue the law targets drug trafficking. The government says it bans unsafe prescribing.
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. Robbins argued the jury instruction was flawed.
Mr. Feigin argued the government's position is accurate.
Mr. Robbins cited Gonzales v. Oregon to support his view.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 35-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of federal narcotics laws. It asks if prescribing outside standard practice is a crime.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 35-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2022.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
What each side wants
The doctors want the conviction overturned.
The government wants the conviction upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 35-1
What each side says
The doctors argue the law targets drug trafficking.
The government argues the law bans unsafe prescribing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 35-1
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked where the standard for the exception comes from.
Justice Thomas asked for an explanation of the specific offense prosecuted.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between medical practice and federal crime. It shapes how prosecutors treat doctors who prescribe unusual medications.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 35-1
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 53-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 43-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 43-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 41-53 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 41-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
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 33, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 29-23 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 29-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 97, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 97, lines 35-1
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.