{"argument_date":"2016-11-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2016-11-07T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","paragraphs":["General Gershengorn argued the Vacancies Act limits self-appointment to first assistants.","Mr. Dvoretzky argued the statute's broad terms compel a different interpretation.","Justice Kagan questioned the practical effect of removing specific statutory language.","Justice Ginsburg referenced Senator Byrd's view on the statutory construction."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 6-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 4-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 4-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.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/2016/15-1251_q86b.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/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 46-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 40-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 32-46"}]}],"caption":"NLRB v. SW General, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.046726Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The Board argues the Vacancies Act bars self-appointment. The company claims the law allows it.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2016-11-07T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/15-1251.html","primary_docket":"15-1251","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:51:13.666793Z","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 Vacancies Reform Act. The Board says the law blocks a nominee from acting in their own office. The company argues the statute permits this arrangement. The Court must interpret the statutory text and legislative history."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 2016."],"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/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The Board wants the Court to declare the acting appointment invalid.","The company wants the Court to uphold the acting appointment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The Board argues the statute's broad terms prohibit self-appointment.","The company argues the statute limits the ban to first assistants only."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked about Senator Byrd's construction of the law.","Justice Kagan asked about the effect of removing specific statutory words."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 6-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 4-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 4-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 52-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 46-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 40-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 32-46"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the limits of executive branch appointments. It clarifies who may serve as acting officials. The outcome shapes future administrative agency leadership structures."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"}]},{"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 46-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 6-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 6-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 28-34"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 4-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 4-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 52-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.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/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 34-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 4-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 46-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 8-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 40-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 32-46"}]}],"slug":"2016-15-1251-nlrb-v-sw-general-inc","term":"2016","title":"Can a nominee serve as acting official for their own office?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 30-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 30-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-1251_q86b.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-50"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}