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Fischer v. United States — SCOTUS (argued April 16, 2024)

No. 23-5572 Argued April 16, 2024 Published July 4, 2026; updated August 16, 2026

The Supreme Court interprets a federal obstruction law used against some January 6 defendants. Section 1512(c)(1) prohibits corruptly destroying or altering evidence for an official proceeding. The next clause punishes anyone who otherwise corruptly obstructs the proceeding. Joseph Fischer says otherwise limits that clause to comparable evidence-related conduct. The United States says it covers every other form of obstruction, including forcing Congress to halt the electoral-vote count. The D.C. Circuit agreed with the government. The Supreme Court later vacated that judgment, six to three, holding that the second clause requires impairing records, documents, objects, or other things used in the proceeding.

Fischer v. United States (No. 23-5572) — Supreme Court of the United States, argued April 16, 2024.

Sources
Argument audio — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/media/audio/mp3files/23-5572.mp3
Argument transcript — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/23-5572_l537.pdf
Case docket — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/23-5572.html
18 U.S.C. § 1512 — U.S. House of Representatives:https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title18-section1512&num=0&edition=prelim
D.C. Circuit decision:https://media.cadc.uscourts.gov/opinions/docs/2023/04/22-3038-1993753.pdf
Brief for Joseph Fischer:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-5572/299098/20240129162026723_Fischer%20Opening%20Merits%20Brief.pdf
Brief for the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-5572/301794/20240228194101353_23-5572bsUnitedStates.pdf
Decision — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/23-5572_l6hn.pdf

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