{"argument_date":"2011-03-22T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-03-22T00:00:00Z","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/2010/09-1476.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Ortiz argued the Petition Clause does not create a broad employment right.","Mr. Schnapper argued the clause protects petitions regardless of public concern.","Mr. Palmore argued the Third Circuit rule is fundamentally flawed."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-45"}]}],"caption":"Borough of Duryea v. Guarnieri","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.980409Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the First Amendment Petition Clause shields public employees from retaliation for speech that does not address public concerns.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-03-22T00:00:00Z","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/09-1476.html","primary_docket":"09-1476","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:06:33.437795Z","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 the scope of the Petition Clause for public employees. The borough argues the clause does not cover private matters. The employee argues the clause protects all petitions to the government."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 22, 2011."],"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/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The borough wants the Court to limit the Petition Clause to public concerns.","The employee wants the Court to protect all petitions to the sovereign."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The borough argues the clause does not cover private employment disputes.","The employee argues the clause protects all requests for government action."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if the core of the Petition Clause is simply petitioning.","Justice Sotomayor asked if race-based retaliation claims qualify as petitioning cases."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-45"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the constitutional floor for public employee speech. It determines whether private grievances receive federal protection. The outcome shapes workplace discipline laws nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}]},{"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/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 21-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 37-45"}]}],"slug":"2010-09-1476-borough-of-duryea-v-guarnieri","term":"2010","title":"Does the Petition Clause protect public employees who speak on private matters?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 17-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 17-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 15-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-1476.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-5"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}