{"argument_date":"2010-03-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-03-22T00:00:00Z","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/2009/09-223.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Mizer argued the case belongs in state court.","He cited comity and federalism principles.","Mr. Fitch addressed standing concerns raised by the Court.","Justices questioned the complexity of the state law analysis."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-17"}]}],"caption":"Levin v. Commerce Energy, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.557347Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Natural gas suppliers challenge Ohio tax rates. The state argues federal courts lack jurisdiction.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-03-22T00:00:00Z","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/09-223.html","primary_docket":"09-223","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:21:14.024283Z","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":["Ohio taxes natural gas suppliers. The suppliers claim the rates violate federal law. The state argues federal courts must abstain."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The state wants federal courts to dismiss the case.","The suppliers want federal courts to hear the tax challenge."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The state argues federalism requires state courts to resolve tax disputes.","The suppliers argue federal courts must review potential constitutional violations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked if the state argued Pullman abstention below.","Justice Alito asked if the case differs from Hibbs due to complexity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-17"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines federal court jurisdiction over state tax disputes. It impacts how businesses challenge state tax rates. It shapes the balance between federal and state judicial power."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}]},{"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 45-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 45-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 17-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 17-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 35-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 47-17"}]}],"slug":"2009-09-223-levin-v-commerce-energy-inc","term":"2009","title":"Should federal courts resolve disputes over state tax rates?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-223.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}