{"argument_date":"2008-12-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2008-12-01T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","paragraphs":["The employer's lawyer argued the Second Circuit's judgment should stand.","The workers' lawyer argued the union cannot barter away fundamental rights.","Justice Souter noted the Court would decide the specific case, not a general question."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"}]}],"caption":"14 Penn Plaza LLC v. Pyett","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.730717Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.759421Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Workers sue for age discrimination. The union says a contract clause requires arbitration. The workers say the union cannot waive their legal rights.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-19"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2008-12-01T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2008","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/07-581.html","primary_docket":"07-581","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T21:21:22.022136Z","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 whether a collective bargaining agreement can force individual workers to resolve discrimination claims through private arbitration instead of court."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-19"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2008."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The employer wants the court to enforce the arbitration clause in the union contract.","The workers want the court to allow them to sue in public court."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The employer argues the union has exclusive control over worker grievances.","The workers argue their right to a discrimination-free workplace cannot be bargained away."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-19"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if the issue relates to the Second Circuit's resolution.","Justice Ginsburg asked where the contract mentions individual succession to union arrangements."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether unions can strip workers of their right to sue for discrimination. It affects the balance of power in workplace grievance processes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-19"}]},{"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 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 39-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"}]}],"slug":"2008-07-581-14-penn-plaza-llc-v-pyett","term":"2008","title":"Can a union force workers to use arbitration for discrimination claims?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 21-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 21-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 43, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2008/07-581.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 37-19"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}