October Term 2023 · Docket 23-5572
Does obstructing evidence require actual impairment of a proceeding?
The dispute centers on whether a defendant must actually impair a proceeding to violate the obstruction statute.
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 a violent mob stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. She argued this disrupted the peaceful transition of power.
Jeffrey Green stated Congress enacted the statute in 2002. He argued it prohibits impairing evidence integrity or availability.
Justice Barrett noted a hypothetical official obstructing evidence. She clarified this did not involve altering vote certificates.
Justice Thomas suggested looking at provision two first. He asked if it could serve as the basis for similarity.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 110, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 110, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-21
- 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 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 9-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Fischer challenges his conviction under 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2). The government argues the statute covers attempts to impair evidence. Fischer argues the statute requires actual impairment of a proceeding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 110, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 110, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 9-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 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 71, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-1
What each side wants
The government wants the Court to uphold the conviction. It argues the statute covers attempts to impair evidence.
Fischer wants the Court to reverse the conviction. He argues the statute requires actual impairment of a proceeding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 110, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 110, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 9-7
What each side says
The government contends the statute prohibits impairing evidence integrity. It asserts this covers attempts to obstruct proceedings.
Fischer contends the statute requires actual impairment. He argues intent alone does not satisfy the statutory text.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 110, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 110, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 9-7
What the justices asked
Justice Thomas asked how to determine what two provisions have in common. He questioned whether to look before or after the word otherwise.
Justice Sotomayor noted provision one does not require actual impairment. She stated provision two requires accomplishing the intent to impair.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal obstruction laws. It determines whether intent alone constitutes a crime. It affects how prosecutors charge evidence tampering. It clarifies the boundary between attempt and completed obstruction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 110, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 110, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 9-7
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 13-33 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 55-7 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 55-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-49
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 110, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 110, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 9-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 110, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 110, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 9-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 9-7
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.