{"argument_date":"2008-04-21T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-04-21T00:00:00Z","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/2007/07-474.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Metcalf argued federal courts should not review everyday employer decisions.","Mr. Katyal stated the Ninth Circuit required a suspect class for claims.","Ms. Blatt argued class-of-one claims fail in public employment contexts.","Justice Roberts asked if minor time-sheet errors justify a termination decision."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 41-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 41-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 23-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-51"}]}],"caption":"Engquist v. Oregon Dept. of Agriculture","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.137283Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:27.170074Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A fired worker claims her boss acted out of personal animus. The state argues courts cannot review such subjective personnel choices.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 41-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 41-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 23-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-19"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-04-21T00:00:00Z","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/07-474.html","primary_docket":"07-474","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:31:42.770004Z","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 the Equal Protection Clause. It asks if a single public employee can sue for damages when a boss acts out of personal dislike. The state argues this power belongs to the employer, not the courts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 41-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 41-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 23-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-19"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 21, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants a court to award damages for personal animus.","The state wants courts to avoid reviewing subjective personnel decisions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 41-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 41-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 23-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the Constitution bans arbitrary treatment of any individual.","The state argues courts lack power to second-guess everyday employment choices."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 41-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 41-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 23-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-19"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked if a supervisor can simply dislike an employee.","Justice Scalia asked if the state accepts a rational-basis test."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-51"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the boundary between public accountability and private management. It determines whether courts can police subjective workplace motives. It shapes the daily reality of public-sector employment relationships."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 41-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 41-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 23-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-19"}]},{"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 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-51"}]}],"slug":"2007-07-474-engquist-v-oregon-dept-of-agriculture","term":"2007","title":"Can a public employee sue for damages based on personal dislike?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 41-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 41-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 46, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 23-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 23-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2007/07-474.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-19"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}