{"argument_date":"2019-10-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2019-10-08T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Karlan argued that firing a man for dating men violates Title VII.","General Francisco argued that sex means male or female, not sexual orientation.","Chief Justice Roberts asked how to handle policies applying equally to men and women.","Justice Ginsburg noted differences in prison guard demographics."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 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29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 43-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-13"}]}],"caption":"Bostock v. Clayton County","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.814522Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.844282Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Employers argue sex discrimination covers only male or female status. Workers argue it covers sexual orientation.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-7"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2019-10-08T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2019","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/17-1618.html","primary_docket":"17-1618","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:45:48.003453Z","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 federal law bars firing workers for dating same-sex partners."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-7"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 2019."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 31-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to rule that Title VII bans sexual orientation discrimination.","the opposing sides want the Court to rule that Title VII only bans male or female status discrimination."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-7"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Ms. Karlan argues firing a man for dating men violates Title VII.","General Francisco argues sex means male or female, not gay or straight."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-7"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked how to handle policies applying equally to men and women.","Justice Ginsburg noted differences in prison guard demographics."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 55-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 43-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of federal workplace protections for LGBTQ+ employees."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-7"}]},{"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 51-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 51-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 51-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 51-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 55-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 43-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 43-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 31-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 47-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 70, lines 9-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 35-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 35-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-13"}]}],"slug":"2019-17-1618-bostock-v-clayton-county","term":"2019","title":"Does Title VII ban firing workers for dating same-sex partners?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 32, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 21-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 49-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/17-1618_2a34.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 49-7"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}