{"argument_date":"2010-04-26T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-04-26T00:00:00Z","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/2009/09-497.pdf","paragraphs":["The company argued the agreement should be enforced as written.","The customer argued the clause waived his right to court.","justice_sotomayor_asked_if_unconscionability_means_coercion_or_process_unfairness."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.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/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-13"}]}],"caption":"Rent-A-Center, West, Inc. v. Jackson","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.523774Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.526498Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A customer claims a rental contract forced him to arbitrate. The company says a judge must enforce the clause.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-15"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-04-26T00:00:00Z","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/09-497.html","primary_docket":"09-497","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T01:08:04.193898Z","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 who decides if an arbitration clause is unfair. A customer claims the clause was coerced. The company says the clause is valid."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-15"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 47-51"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The company wants the court to enforce the arbitration clause.","The customer wants the court to reject the arbitration clause."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-15"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The company argues the clause is valid and enforceable.","The customer argues the clause was unconscionable and coerced."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-15"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if coercion proves the clause was unconscionable.","Chief Justice Roberts asked which parties agreed to arbitrate the dispute."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who decides if arbitration clauses are fair. It affects consumer rights in rental contracts. It shapes the balance between courts and arbitrators."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-15"}]},{"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/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 9-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 47-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 47-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 5-13"}]}],"slug":"2009-09-497-rent-a-center-west-inc-v-jackson","term":"2009","title":"Who decides if an arbitration clause is unfair?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 35-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/09-497.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 15-15"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}