October Term 2023 · Docket 22-915
Does the Second Amendment protect a domestic abuser's right to own a gun?
The dispute centers on whether federal law can ban domestic abusers from possessing firearms.
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
General Prelogar stated that guns and domestic abuse create a deadly combination.
Mr. Wright argued that the government does not rely on analogues for outsiders.
General Prelogar claimed that Bruen does not require a precise historical analogue.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-45
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the Second Amendment. It asks if the right to bear arms extends to individuals convicted of domestic violence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-53
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 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 83, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 33-35
What each side wants
The government wants to keep the ban on domestic abusers owning guns.
The defendant wants the court to strike down the federal ban.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-53
What each side says
The government argues that domestic violence poses a specific danger to public safety.
The defendant argues that the law lacks a precise historical analogue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-53
What the justices asked
Justice Barrett asked how the government proves certain behavior is dangerous.
Justice Thomas asked if civil actions differ from criminal proceedings in this context.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
Why it matters
This case defines who can legally possess firearms. It balances individual rights against the safety of domestic violence victims. The outcome shapes future gun control laws nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-53
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 21-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 55-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 55-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 45-45
- 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 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 55-23 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 55-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-9 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-17 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 83, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 83, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
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 102, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 102, lines 13-35 — Transcript, file page 102, lines 13-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 9-53 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 9-53
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.