{"argument_date":"2002-10-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2002-10-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. McDowell argued the deadline is mandatory but not jurisdictional.","Mr. Roberts argued the word shall means may.","Mr. Buscemi argued the companies should not get a windfall.","Mr. Sutton cited the assignment provision in the brief."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 3-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-9"}]}],"caption":"Barnhart v. Peabody Coal Co.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.968234Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.996274Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Coal companies argue a missed deadline voids their payment duty. The government argues the deadline is not strict.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 3-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-5"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2002-10-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2002","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/01-705.html","primary_docket":"01-705","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T22:39:29.451502Z","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":["The case tests whether a 1993 deadline is mandatory. It affects who pays for retired coal miners."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 3-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-5"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 2002."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-9"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants coal companies to pay benefits.","Coal companies want to avoid paying benefits."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 3-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the deadline is not strict.","Coal companies argue the deadline is mandatory."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 3-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-5"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Does the word shall create a strict deadline?","Does a missed deadline void the payment duty?"],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines who pays for retired coal miners. It affects the financial burden on coal companies. It impacts the availability of benefits for workers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 3-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-5"}]},{"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 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 5-9"}]}],"slug":"2002-01-705-barnhart-v-peabody-coal-co","term":"2002","title":"Does a missed 1993 deadline bar coal companies from paying benefits?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 41-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 9-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 3-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/01-705.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-5"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}