{"argument_date":"2002-03-26T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2002-03-26T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","paragraphs":["Devlin's counsel stated the case concerns the right to appeal.","He noted the district court confirmed the settlement over objections.","He argued the Fourth Circuit wrongly blocked his appeal.","Scardelletti's counsel agreed objectors have important interests in settlements."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 11-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 8-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 8-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 14-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 29-31"}]}],"caption":"Devlin v. Scardelletti","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:32.302667Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Robert Devlin wants to appeal a pension settlement. The Fourth Circuit blocked his appeal.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 11-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 8-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 8-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 14-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2002-03-26T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2001","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/01-417.html","primary_docket":"01-417","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T17:01:31.869616Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["Robert Devlin opposed a class action settlement. The district court approved it anyway. The Fourth Circuit denied his appeal. He argues he has a right to appeal. The government argues only proper parties may appeal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 11-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 8-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 8-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 14-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 26, 2002."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Devlin wants to appeal the settlement approval.","Scardelletti wants to block Devlin's appeal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 11-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 8-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 8-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 14-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Devlin argues objectors have important interests in settlements.","Scardelletti argues only proper parties may appeal judgments."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 11-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 8-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 8-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 14-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the case is submitted."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 29-31"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who can challenge class settlements. It affects the rights of objectors in future litigation. It clarifies the path to appellate review for dissatisfied members."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 11-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 8-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 8-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 14-17"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 49, lines 29-31"}]}],"slug":"2001-01-417-devlin-v-scardelletti","term":"2001","title":"Can a class member appeal a settlement they opposed?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 11-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 11-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 8-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 8-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2001/01-417.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 14-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}