October Term 2021 · Docket 20-1459
Does an attempt to commit Hobbs Act robbery qualify as a crime of violence under federal law?
The dispute centers on whether the minimum conduct of an attempted robbery meets the statutory definition of a crime of violence.
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
Ms. Taibleson argued that Congress intended to punish dangerous felons who use guns during violent crimes.
Mr. Dreeben argued that an attempt to commit Hobbs Act robbery is not a crime of violence.
Mr. Dreeben stated that the categorical approach focuses on the minimum conduct prohibited by the statute.
Ms. Taibleson noted that the phrase threaten force appears in both the Hobbs Act and the sentencing statute.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-23
- 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 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal sentencing enhancements for gun use during violent crimes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 45-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2021.
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 45-11 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-11
What each side wants
The government seeks a conviction under the gun-use enhancement statute.
The defendant seeks to avoid the mandatory minimum sentence for gun use.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 45-45
What each side says
The government argues that the defendant's conduct fits the statutory definition of a violent crime.
The defendant argues that an attempt to rob does not meet the legal standard for a crime of violence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 45-45
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the government would prosecute a person who holds a gun but never uses it.
Justice Thomas asked if abandoning the categorical approach would change the outcome of this case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-17
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal sentencing enhancements for gun use during violent crimes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 45-45
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 21-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 21-23
- 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 19-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-11 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-11 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 80, lines 55-9 — Transcript, file page 80, lines 55-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-17
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 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 87, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 87, lines 45-45
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.