{"argument_date":"2019-11-05T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2019-11-05T00:00:00Z","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/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Shaffer argued Congress can make states pay for infringing federal rights. He stated this follows from the Constitution's text.","Mr. Park argued state sovereign immunity is a fundamental constitutional feature. He stated immunity from private money damages remains inherent in sovereignty.","Justice Ginsburg questioned the applicability of the patent decision to this case. She noted the same secure and exclusivity language appears in both.","Justice Kagan asked if the Court must revisit the Florida Prepaid rule. She questioned if the sides that brought the case' view requires overturning that precedent."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 31-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 55-9"}]}],"caption":"Allen v. Cooper","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.655078Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.685234Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek damages from North Carolina. The state claims sovereign immunity blocks the claim.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 33-49"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2019-11-05T00:00:00Z","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/18-877.html","primary_docket":"18-877","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:43:14.246004Z","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 Copyright Remedy Clarification Act. It asks if Congress can waive state immunity for copyright claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 33-49"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 5, 2019."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 51-19"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to uphold the CRCA. They seek a monetary judgment against North Carolina.","North Carolina wants the Court to dismiss the suit. It seeks to maintain its sovereign immunity from private damages claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 33-49"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue Congress can make states pay for infringing federal rights. They cite the Constitution's text and the CRCA's validity.","North Carolina argues state sovereign immunity is a fundamental constitutional feature. It claims immunity from private money damages remains inherent in sovereignty."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 33-49"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Ginsburg asked if the patent decision applies to this copyright clause. She noted the same secure and exclusivity language appears in both.","Justice Kagan asked if the Court must revisit the Florida Prepaid rule. She questioned if the sides that brought the case' view requires overturning that precedent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 31-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 55-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines state liability for federal copyright violations. It determines whether states can avoid paying for online infringement. This shapes the balance between federal rights and state autonomy."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 33-49"}]},{"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 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 11-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 31-55"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 51-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 68, lines 51-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 43-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 55-9"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-877-allen-v-cooper","term":"2019","title":"Can Congress force states to pay for copyright infringement?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 11-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 64, lines 49-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 33-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-877_6jfm.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 33-49"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}