October Term 2023 · Docket 23-108
Does federal law punish local officials for any benefit or only corrupt intent?
The dispute centers on whether federal law requires proof of corrupt intent to punish local officials who receive benefits.
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. Blatt argued the law applies to 19 million local officials.
Ms. Sinzdak argued the government must maximize benefits to citizens.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the statutory language used by the advocates.
Justice Jackson noted similar language in other federal statutes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-29
- 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 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Snyder v. United States
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 15, 2024.
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 82, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 51-15
What each side wants
Snyder wants the conviction overturned because the law requires proof of corrupt intent.
The government wants the conviction to stand because the law covers any benefit received.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-49
What each side says
Snyder argues the statute demands a serious mental state standard to prove guilt.
The government argues the statute targets any benefit that rewards local officials.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-49
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if the argument depends on the vagueness of the standard.
Justice Jackson asked why Snyder claims this law looks different from similar statutes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-21
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal power over local government employees. It determines whether prosecutors must prove corrupt intent or only show a benefit was received. The outcome affects millions of state and local workers who handle federal funds.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-49
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 29-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 7-29
- 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 23-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 37-15 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 37-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 7-53 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 7-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 82, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 82, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-21
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 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 53-27 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 53-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 13-49 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 13-49
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.