{"argument_date":"2009-12-09T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-12-09T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Waxman stated that arbitrators derive authority solely from party consent.","Ms. Pillard argued that arbitrators interpreted the contract as the parties asked.","Justice Breyer questioned the interpretation of the Bazzle precedent.","Justice Ginsburg identified the preliminary question regarding the arbitration clause."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"}]}],"caption":"Stolt-Nielsen S.A. v. AnimalFeeds Int’l. Corp.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.013882Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.033130Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a contract clause allows class arbitration when the text does not explicitly state it.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-12-09T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-1198.html","primary_docket":"08-1198","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:46:50.681629Z","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 scope of arbitration agreements. It tests if silence on class treatment implies consent to group proceedings."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 9, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 19-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to reverse the lower court's interpretation of the contract.","the opposing sides want the Court to affirm the lower court's interpretation of the contract."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue that arbitrators derive authority solely from specific party consent to the agreement.","the opposing sides argue that arbitrators interpreted the contract as the parties requested without imposing policy."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if the preliminary question was whether the clause permitted class treatment.","Justice Breyer questioned whether the Bazzle precedent answered the who question."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This issue determines the default rule for silent arbitration clauses. It affects the rights of parties in commercial disputes. It shapes the scope of private arbitration agreements."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-17"}]},{"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 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-1198-stolt-nielsen-s-a-v-animalfeeds-int-l-corp","term":"2009","title":"Can parties force class arbitration without explicit consent?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 27-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 27-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 48, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1198.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}