{"argument_date":"2015-10-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-10-05T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Duggan stated that joint debtors are applicants under the law.","Mr. Mcallister argued that the agency cannot rewrite the statute.","Justice Scalia questioned if a recommendation letter writer is an applicant.","Justice Scalia asked if the agency can define the term applicant."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 12-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 6-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-6"}]}],"caption":"Hawkins v. Community Bank of Raymore","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.920726Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the law protects guarantors from credit discrimination.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 12-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 6-32"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-10-05T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2015","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/14-520.html","primary_docket":"14-520","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:33:10.940006Z","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":["Hawkins v. Community Bank of Raymore asks if guarantors qualify as applicants under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. The lower court ruled against the sides that brought the case. The Supreme Court will review this legal interpretation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 12-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 6-32"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to rule that guarantors are applicants under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.","the opposing sides want the Court to rule that guarantors are not applicants under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 12-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 6-32"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Mr. Duggan argues that joint debtors are applicants under the statute.","Mr. Mcallister argues that the agency cannot rewrite the statute to exclude guarantors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 12-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 6-32"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked if a recommendation letter writer is an applicant.","Justice Scalia asked if the agency can define the term applicant."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-6"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who receives federal protection from credit discrimination. It determines the scope of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. It affects how banks treat guarantors in loan agreements."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 12-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 6-32"}]},{"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 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 44-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 44-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 24-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 10-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-6"}]}],"slug":"2015-14-520-hawkins-v-community-bank-of-raymore","term":"2015","title":"Do guarantors count as applicants under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 12-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 6-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2015/14-520_3e04.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 6-32"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}