{"argument_date":"2010-12-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-12-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Phillips argued Congress made employer sanctions central to immigration policy.","He stated federal law broadly preempted state and local sanctions.","He noted the only exception was a parenthetical for licensing laws.","Ms. O'Grady argued states traditionally regulate employer conduct through police powers."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 35-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]}],"caption":"Chamber of Commerce of United States v. Whiting","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.334744Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.338360Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Businesses argue federal law preempts state license revocations. States claim they retain police power to regulate employers.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 35-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-12-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2010","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/09-115.html","primary_docket":"09-115","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:30:42.873040Z","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 immigration law blocks states from using license revocation to punish employers who hire unauthorized workers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 35-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2010."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down state license revocation laws.","the opposing sides want the Court to uphold state license revocation laws."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 35-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue federal law preempts state sanctions on unauthorized hiring.","the opposing sides argue states retain police power to regulate employer conduct."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 35-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked if the state law definition mirrors the Administrative Procedure Act.","Justice Scalia asked why the federal option leaves states no other choice."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the boundary between federal immigration control and state regulatory authority. It determines whether states can use licensing tools to enforce labor standards. This shapes how employers operate across state lines. It impacts the balance of power in national immigration enforcement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 35-17"}]},{"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 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 43-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 31-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-115-chamber-of-commerce-of-united-states-v-whiting","term":"2010","title":"Does federal law block states from revoking business licenses for hiring unauthorized workers?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 33-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 35-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-115.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 35-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}