{"argument_date":"2012-01-11T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-01-11T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case's counsel argued the law is distinguishable from prior precedent.","the opposing side's counsel cited historical context to support the legislation's validity.","questions_asked_by_justices"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-17"}]}],"caption":"Coleman v. Court of Appeals of Md.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.523505Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the side that brought the case argues the law's self-care clause lacks a valid constitutional basis. the opposing side claims it addresses gender discrimination.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-01-11T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2011","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/10-1016.html","primary_docket":"10-1016","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:19:46.343032Z","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 validity of a federal leave law. the side that brought the case seeks reversal of a lower court decision. the opposing side seeks affirmation of that decision."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2012."],"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/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the Court to reverse the lower court judgment.","the opposing side wants the Court to affirm the lower court judgment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the self-care provision is not a valid exercise of congressional power.","the opposing side argues the provision addresses historical discrimination against women."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked how equal leave affects employer incentives.","Justice Sotomayor noted legislative records show a dual motive for the law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-17"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the scope of federal power to regulate private employment. It determines whether Congress can mandate equal leave for all employees. This affects how employers structure benefits and hiring practices nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"}]},{"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 11, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 7-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 5-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 39-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 51-17"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-1016-coleman-v-court-of-appeals-of-md","term":"2011","title":"Does the FMLA's self-care leave provision violate the Constitution?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 22, lines 9-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-1016.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-3"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}