October Term 2022 · Docket 22-138
Does prosecuting true threats require proof of specific intent?
The dispute centers on whether criminalizing true threats requires proof that the speaker intended to threaten.
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
the side that brought the case contends that free speech protections require narrow definitions for exceptions.
The state asserts that history supports prosecuting true threats without specific intent.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-19
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if the First Amendment requires a specific intent element for true threat prosecutions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 53-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 19, 2023.
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 66, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 35-19
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to require proof of specific intent for true threat convictions.
The state wants the Court to allow convictions based on knowledge or recklessness.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 53-51
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that categorical speech exceptions must be narrowly defined and historically settled.
The state argues that true threats have always been prosecuted without a specific intent requirement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 53-51
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked why true threats receive more protection than obscenity.
Justice Alito asked if knowledge suffices when purpose is not required.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-51
Why it matters
This case defines the mental state required to criminalize threatening speech. It balances free expression against public safety. The outcome shapes how prosecutors prove intent in threat cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 53-51
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 19-37 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 53-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 53-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 9-19
- 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 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 35-19 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 35-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 27-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 27-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-51
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 108, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 108, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 108, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 13-53 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 13-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 84, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 84, lines 53-51
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.