{"argument_date":"2003-02-24T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2003-02-24T00:00:00Z","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/2002/02-215.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Grauer argued federal policy favors arbitration. He warned courts should not entangle in speculative litigation. He stated this would undermine important policy.","Mr. Whatley argued courts must determine arbitrability. He cited prior Court decisions. He stated no presumption favors giving this issue to the arbitrator.","questions_and_answers"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 31-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 31-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 37-39"}]}],"caption":"Pacificare Health Systems, Inc. v. Book","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:31.300548Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The parties dispute whether a court or an arbitrator must decide if a contract clause covers a specific claim.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 31-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 31-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2003-02-24T00:00:00Z","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/02-215.html","primary_docket":"02-215","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T16:30:10.262218Z","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":["This case tests who decides if an arbitration clause covers a specific dispute. the sides that brought the case want courts to avoid deciding arbitration remedies. the opposing sides want courts to decide arbitrability first."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 31-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 31-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 24, 2003."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want courts to avoid speculative litigation over arbitration remedies.","the opposing sides want courts to decide arbitrability before sending issues to an arbitrator."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 31-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 31-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue federal policy favors arbitration and courts should not entangle in remedies.","the opposing sides argue courts must determine arbitrability and no presumption favors the arbitrator."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 31-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 31-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"}]},{"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 52, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 37-39"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the boundary between judicial and arbitral power. It shapes how parties resolve contract disagreements. It affects the efficiency of the arbitration process. It determines who controls the initial scope of disputes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 31-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 31-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"}]},{"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 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 37-39"}]}],"slug":"2002-02-215-pacificare-health-systems-inc-v-book","term":"2002","title":"Who decides if an arbitration clause covers a specific dispute?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 31-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 31-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2002/02-215.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}