{"argument_date":"2013-11-12T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2013-11-12T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Saharsky argued the statute protects contractor employees from retaliation.","She stated Congress intended to cover accountants and lawyers.","Mr. Schnapper argued the statute uses classic employee-employer language.","He stated legislation regarding entity treatment refers to own employees."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 47-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 31-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]}],"caption":"Lawson v. FMR LLC","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.448989Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:24.480278Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The case tests whether federal law shields workers hired by outside firms from employer retaliation.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 47-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 31-45"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2013-11-12T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2013","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/12-3.html","primary_docket":"12-3","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T21:29:53.977107Z","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 dispute centers on the scope of a federal whistleblower statute. One side argues the law covers only direct employees. The other side claims it protects workers of outside contractors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 47-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 31-45"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 12, 2013."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to extend legal protection to contractor employees.","the opposing sides want the Court to limit protection to direct employees only."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 47-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 31-45"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the statute text covers contractor workers.","the opposing sides argue the statute refers only to an entity's own employees."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 47-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 31-45"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked how to limit protection if contractors are included.","Justice Ginsburg asked whether the law covers all employees or only some."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who receives federal whistleblower protection. It determines the scope of anti-retaliation laws for corporate workers. It affects how companies manage outside contractor relationships."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 47-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 31-45"}]},{"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 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 58, lines 49-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 11-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 19-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 45-5"}]}],"slug":"2013-12-3-lawson-v-fmr-llc","term":"2013","title":"Does the Sarbanes-Oxley Act protect contractor employees from retaliation?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 47-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 47-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 33-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 33-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2013/12-3_q8l1.pdf","page_label":"file page 55, lines 31-45"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}