{"argument_date":"2007-11-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2007-11-06T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argued Congress required timely notice and conciliation before a suit.","the opposing side argued the intake form initiates the statutory process.","Justice Alito asked if an EEOC error in notifying the employer invalidates the charge.","Justice Souter asked why the plaintiff should bear the penalty for an EEOC mistake."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-21"}]}],"caption":"Federal Express Corp. v. Holowecki","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.656301Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a preliminary intake form satisfies the legal requirement for a formal charge before filing an age discrimination lawsuit.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 9-11"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2007-11-06T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2007","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/06-1322.html","primary_docket":"06-1322","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T12:00:54.550495Z","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 examines the procedural steps required before an employee can sue for age discrimination. The core issue is the legal status of the initial EEOC intake form. the side that brought the case argues this form is not a formal charge. the opposing side argues it serves as a valid charge. The Court must define the trigger for the statutory waiting period."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 9-11"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2007."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The employer wants the Court to declare the intake form invalid as a charge.","The employee wants the Court to declare the intake form a valid charge."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 9-11"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The employer argues the intake form lacks the legal status of a formal charge.","The employee argues the intake form initiates the statutory conciliation process."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 9-11"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if the form explicitly stated it was not a charge.","Justice Ginsburg asked if EEOC officers complete the formal charge for unrepresented filers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-21"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the start date for the statutory waiting period. It determines whether employees must wait for a formal charge or an intake form. This rule affects the timing of all age discrimination lawsuits. It shapes the administrative burden on the EEOC. It impacts the rights of unrepresented employees in federal courts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 9-11"}]},{"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 10, lines 29-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 27-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-21"}]}],"slug":"2007-06-1322-federal-express-corp-v-holowecki","term":"2007","title":"Does an EEOC intake form count as a formal charge?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/06-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 47, lines 9-11"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}