{"argument_date":"2010-11-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2010-11-10T00:00:00Z","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/2010/09-520.pdf","paragraphs":["CSX argues the tax discriminates against railroads.","Alabama argues the tax is neutral and rational.","Justices questioned the definition of discrimination."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 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15-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-37"}]}],"caption":"CSX Transportation, Inc. v. Alabama Dept. of Revenue","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.403928Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:25.433423Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"CSX argues Alabama taxes railroads unfairly. The state says the tax is neutral.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 29-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2010-11-10T00:00:00Z","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/09-520.html","primary_docket":"09-520","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T00:49:22.234462Z","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":["Alabama taxes railroads but exempts trucking companies. CSX claims this violates federal law. The state argues the tax is neutral. The Court must define discrimination."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 29-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 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/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-41"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["CSX wants the tax struck down as discriminatory.","Alabama wants the tax upheld as neutral."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 29-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["CSX argues the tax singles out railroads.","Alabama argues the tax applies to a neutral class."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 29-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked how to limit the term discrimination.","Justice Kagan asked for the rationale behind the distinction."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 19-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 41-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 60, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-37"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when state taxes violate federal law. It affects how states tax different industries. It clarifies the scope of federal preemption."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 29-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 29-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 15-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 15-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-47"}]},{"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 19-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 19-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 19-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 49-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 21-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 3-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2010/09-520.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 3-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 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