{"argument_date":"2009-10-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-10-07T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-604.pdf","paragraphs":["Ballenger cited Section 3 First (q) of the Railway Labor Act.","Ballenger noted the statute requires a conference under Section 2 Second.","Geoghegan corrected a pronunciation during the oral argument."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"caption":"Union Pacific R. Co. v. Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen Gen. Comm. of Adjustment","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.228584Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.242038Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Union Pacific disputes a board award that ignored a statutory conference requirement.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-45"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-10-07T00:00:00Z","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/08-604.html","primary_docket":"08-604","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:06:02.272676Z","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 case tests whether a labor board must hold a conference before issuing an award."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-45"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 25-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Union Pacific wants the board award set aside for ignoring the conference rule.","The union wants the board award upheld despite the missing conference."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Union Pacific argues the statute mandates a conference before an award.","The union argues the board can excuse the missing conference under the law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-45"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if some panels stay proceedings to allow conferences.","Justice Sotomayor asked why the statutory violation is not the main issue."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the procedural limits of labor boards in railroad disputes."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-45"}]},{"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 29-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 29-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 11-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 49-5"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-604-union-pacific-r-co-v-locomotive-engineers-and-trainmen-gen-comm-of-adjustment","term":"2009","title":"Can a railroad board ignore a required conference?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-604.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-45"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}