{"argument_date":"2019-12-10T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2019-12-10T00:00:00Z","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/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","paragraphs":["Paul Clement argued the government engaged in a bait-and-switch scheme.","He claimed the government must keep its word after inducing reliance.","He stated the government treats similar payment language as mandatory in other contexts.","Mr. Kneedler argued the Appropriations Clause is a central constitutional command."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 30-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 32-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 24-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 44-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 44-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 34-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 34-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 50-14"}]}],"caption":"Maine Community Health Options v. United States","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.592086Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.626945Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek damages for broken government promises. The government argues the Constitution bars such claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 34-54"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2019-12-10T00:00:00Z","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/18-1023.html","primary_docket":"18-1023","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:38:13.749916Z","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":["This case tests the scope of the Appropriations Clause. It asks if this clause blocks private lawsuits for government debts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 34-54"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 10, 2019."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 6-8"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to allow their damages claims against the government.","The government wants the Court to dismiss these claims under the Appropriations Clause."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 34-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the government must honor its money-mandating promises to protect reliance.","The government argues the Appropriations Clause strictly forbids paying money without specific appropriations."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 34-54"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if insurance companies should have known the law barred their claims.","Justice Kagan asked if the phrase shall pay is sufficient in all cases to create a claim."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 30-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 32-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 24-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 44-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 44-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 34-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 50-14"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the limits of government financial liability. It determines whether private parties can sue for broken promises. The outcome shapes future interactions between citizens and the state."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 34-54"}]},{"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 11, lines 30-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 30-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 32-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 32-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 34-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 12-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-44","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 24-44"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 44-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 44-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 6-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 6-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 34-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 50-14"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-1023-maine-community-health-options-v-united-states","term":"2019","title":"Does the Appropriations Clause bar private damages claims against the government?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 10-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 10-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 34-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-1023_m648.pdf","page_label":"file page 63, lines 34-54"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}