{"argument_date":"2004-11-03T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2004-11-03T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Goldstein argued the ADEA embodies Congress' determination against age discrimination.","Mr. Goldstein stated the Act prohibits practices lacking reasonable business justification.","Mr. Nager argued mere statistical correlations do not create a prima facie case.","Justice Breyer questioned the practical application of the business necessity standard."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 41-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-13"}]}],"caption":"Smith v. City of Jackson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.957818Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.984293Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek a disparate impact ban. The City argues the statute lacks this rule.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 41-19"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2004-11-03T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-1160.html","primary_docket":"03-1160","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T15:24:07.537579Z","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 the scope of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. the sides that brought the case argue the law bans practices that harm older workers without business justification. The City argues the statute only bans intentional discrimination. The dispute centers on statutory interpretation and lower court rulings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 41-19"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2004."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 33-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to recognize a disparate impact claim under the ADEA.","The City wants the Court to reject the disparate impact theory."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 41-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the ADEA prohibits practices lacking reasonable business justification.","The City argues the statute does not contain a disparate impact provision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 41-19"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked if the lack of business justification is an affirmative defense.","Justice Kennedy asked if the regulation interprets the prohibitory section of the statute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the scope of federal age discrimination protections. It determines whether employers face liability for neutral practices that harm older workers. This affects hiring, compensation, and workforce composition decisions nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 41-19"}]},{"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 10, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-13"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1160-smith-v-city-of-jackson","term":"2004","title":"Does the ADEA ban practices with disparate impact on older workers?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1160.pdf","page_label":"file page 51, lines 41-19"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}