{"argument_date":"2010-02-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-02-22T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-1322.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Yang argued the EAJA requires fee awards to prevailing parties.","Mr. Leach argued Catherine Ratliff is entitled to receive the fee.","Mr. Leach stated Congress invited her to prove the government was wrong."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-9"}]}],"caption":"Astrue v. Ratliff","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.653633Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether courts must pay attorney fees directly to clients or if they can direct payment to the attorneys.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-02-22T00:00:00Z","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/08-1322.html","primary_docket":"08-1322","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:34:14.934143Z","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":["The Equal Access to Justice Act mandates fee awards to prevailing parties. The government argues courts can pay attorneys directly. The client argues the statute requires payment to the party."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 22, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The government wants courts to pay attorneys directly.","The client wants the court to pay her directly."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The government argues the statute allows direct payment to attorneys.","The client argues the statute mandates payment to the prevailing party."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if the client must transfer the funds.","Justice Ginsburg asked where the contract between party and attorney exists."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines who controls legal fee payments in federal litigation. It affects how attorneys receive compensation for successful government cases. It impacts the financial relationship between clients and their lawyers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"}]},{"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 13-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 29-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 51-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-9"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-1322-astrue-v-ratliff","term":"2009","title":"Who receives EAJA fee awards in Social Security cases?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-1322.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 19-29"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}