October Term 2021 · Docket 20-827
Can the government block all discovery in a detainee abuse case?
The government seeks to stop all evidence gathering. The detainee seeks to prove abuse occurred.
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. Fletcher argued that covert partnerships depend on trust.
Mr. Klein used a hypothetical train murder to illustrate jurisdiction.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the consistency of the government's secrecy claim.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The government claims national security requires secrecy. The detainee claims the lower court acted within its power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 2021.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-15
What each side wants
The government wants a complete ban on evidence gathering.
The detainee wants the court to allow specific evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
What each side says
The government argues partner trust requires total confidentiality.
The detainee argues the lower court acted within its discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the government seeks deference to its judgment.
Justice Thomas asked if contractors previously testified about detainee treatment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-1
- 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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-1
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of state secrets claims. It determines how courts balance security and accountability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
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 13-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-19 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 45-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 47-53 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 47-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-1
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 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 31-21 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 31-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 33-35
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.