{"argument_date":"2009-10-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-10-05T00:00:00Z","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/2009/08-678.pdf","paragraphs":["Mohawk Industries argues that immediate appeals prevent inconsistent rulings on privilege.","Carpenter argues that finality rules must block immediate appeals of privilege orders.","Justice Sotomayor questioned if exceptions undermine the purpose of encouraging frank communication.","Justice Scalia asked if interlocutory appeals should exist for privilege issues."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 47-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-47"}]}],"caption":"Mohawk Industries, Inc. v. Carpenter","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.169152Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Mohawk Industries argues that immediate appeals prevent inconsistent rulings on privilege. Carpenter contends that finality rules must block such appeals.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 47-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 13-33"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-10-05T00:00:00Z","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/08-678.html","primary_docket":"08-678","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:10:35.348756Z","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 federal courts must allow immediate appeals of orders compelling disclosure of attorney-client communications. Mohawk Industries seeks to overturn a lower court's refusal to hear such an appeal. Carpenter defends the lower court's decision to deny the appeal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 47-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 13-33"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Mohawk Industries wants the Court to allow immediate appeals of privilege orders.","Carpenter wants the Court to uphold the lower court's denial of the appeal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 47-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 13-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Mohawk Industries argues that immediate appeals prevent inconsistent rulings on privilege.","Carpenter argues that finality rules must block immediate appeals of privilege orders."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 47-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 13-33"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if creating exceptions undermines the purpose of encouraging frank communication.","Justice Scalia asked if interlocutory appeals should exist for privilege issues."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-47"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether parties can challenge privilege orders immediately. It affects the consistency of federal court rulings on attorney-client secrets. It balances the need for finality against the risk of inconsistent privilege decisions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 47-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 13-33"}]},{"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 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 37-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-47"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-678-mohawk-industries-inc-v-carpenter","term":"2009","title":"Can parties appeal a judge's order to reveal attorney-client secrets?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 23, lines 47-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-678.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 13-33"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}