October Term 2024 · Docket 23-1095

Does a true but misleading statement violate the bank fraud statute?

The dispute centers on whether Section 1014 covers statements that are technically true but convey an untrue message.

Official caption
Thompson v. United States
Latest argument session
Latest official Court activity
Latest verified event
Decided
Sources analyzed through
Post Opinion

Verified source milestones

  1. — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
  2. — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
  3. — 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.

  1. Argument 1 ·

    What happened at the argument

    Mr. Gair argued the text limits the statute to false statements.

    Ms. Flynn argued context determines whether a statement is false.

    Justice Alito questioned the side that brought the case's interpretation of the law.

    Justice Jackson questioned the practical application of the definition.

    Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details

    Sources used for this argument breakdown

A citizen's guide to the whole case

What this case is about

This case tests the scope of federal bank fraud laws. the side that brought the case argues the statute bans only false statements. The government argues it bans statements that mislead listeners.

Official sources for this section

How the case got here

The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2025.

Official sources for this section

What each side wants

the side that brought the case wants the conviction overturned.

The government wants the conviction upheld.

Official sources for this section

What each side says

the side that brought the case argues the word false means not true.

The government argues a statement is false if it conveys an untrue message.

Official sources for this section

What the justices asked

Justice Thomas asked how to distinguish false from misleading.

Justice Jackson asked how the definition helps the client.

Official sources for this section

Why it matters

This case defines the boundary between legal and illegal statements in banking. It determines when truthfulness protects a speaker. It shapes federal fraud enforcement standards.

Official sources for this section

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 Court provenance

Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page

Verified official opinions and orders

Title and summary sources

Revision history

  1. Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·

    Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.

  2. Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·

    Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.

Download this sanitized case as JSON