{"argument_date":"2011-10-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2011-10-05T00:00:00Z","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/2011/10-553.pdf","paragraphs":["Douglas Laycock argued the church controls its own clergy selection.","He stated government does not set criteria for church officers.","The government argued religious freedom must accommodate public welfare.","Justice Scalia noted it is not government business to judge church interests."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-49"}]}],"caption":"Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.686589Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.710396Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A church claims the First Amendment bars courts from reviewing its dismissal of a teacher. The government argues employment laws must apply to all workers.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-47"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2011-10-05T00:00:00Z","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/10-553.html","primary_docket":"10-553","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T23:49:50.476557Z","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 the First Amendment blocks courts from applying employment laws to church staff. The church argues religious freedom requires total control over its clergy. The government argues anti-discrimination laws protect workers in all sectors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-47"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2011."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 41-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The church wants the Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit entirely.","The government wants the Supreme Court to allow the lawsuit to proceed."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-47"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The church argues the First Amendment forbids government interference in selecting clergy.","The government argues religious freedom must balance against public welfare interests."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-47"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Roberts asked how to define who qualifies as a minister.","Justice Sotomayor asked for a theoretical framework for the church's position."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-49"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the boundary between religious autonomy and employment law. It determines whether courts can review church personnel decisions. The outcome shapes the rights of religious workers nationwide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 45, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 45-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 45-47"}]},{"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 11-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 11-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 23-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 23-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 51-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 57, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 3-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 39-49"}]}],"slug":"2011-10-553-hosanna-tabor-evangelical-lutheran-church-and-school-v-eeoc","term":"2011","title":"Can a church fire a minister without government review?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 45-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 45-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2011/10-553.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 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