{"argument_date":"2005-10-31T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-10-31T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","paragraphs":["The college argues state immunity blocks federal bankruptcy enforcement.","The creditor argues federal bankruptcy laws must bind all states.","Justice Stevens asked why the automatic stay binds the state.","Justice O'Connor asked why sovereign immunity does not extend to the stay."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"}]}],"caption":"Central Va. Community College v. Katz","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.091685Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether federal bankruptcy laws override state sovereign immunity.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-10-31T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2005","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/04-885.html","primary_docket":"04-885","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:14:55.586911Z","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 the limits of federal power over state entities in bankruptcy."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The college wants to keep its sovereign immunity from federal bankruptcy rules.","The creditor wants the federal bankruptcy laws to apply to the state college."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The college argues state immunity blocks federal bankruptcy enforcement.","The creditor argues federal bankruptcy laws must bind all states."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked why the automatic stay binds the state.","Justice O'Connor asked why sovereign immunity does not extend to the stay."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the balance between federal bankruptcy power and state sovereignty."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-43"}]},{"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 45-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"}]}],"slug":"2005-04-885-central-va-community-college-v-katz","term":"2005","title":"Can Congress force states to follow federal bankruptcy rules?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2005/04-885.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}