{"argument_date":"2020-01-15T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-01-15T00:00:00Z","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/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Martinez argued the statute tracks Title VII text.","General Francisco argued the law adopts but-for causation.","Justice Kavanaugh questioned the consistency of the causation standard."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 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11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 23-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 55-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 55-55"}]}],"caption":"Babb v. Wilkie","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.410533Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.443174Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek a remedy for age bias without proving it was the sole cause. the opposing sides argue the law requires that specific proof.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 23-53"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-01-15T00:00:00Z","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/18-882.html","primary_docket":"18-882","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:35:45.863853Z","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 standard for proving age discrimination in federal employment. the sides that brought the case argue the statute bans any action influenced by age. the opposing sides argue the statute requires age to be the decisive factor."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 23-53"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 15, 2020."],"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/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 55-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want a remedy if age influenced the action.","the opposing sides want dismissal unless age was the sole cause."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 23-53"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the text bans any action based on age.","the opposing sides argue the text requires but-for causation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 23-53"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Gorsuch asked about alternative remedies.","Justice Ginsburg asked who would receive training."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 55-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 55-55"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the burden of proof for federal employees. It determines whether age bias alone triggers liability. This standard affects all federal personnel actions."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 23-53"}]},{"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 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 9-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 23-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 55-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 55-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 19-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 51-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 53-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 15-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 71, lines 15-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 11-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-55","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 55-55"}]}],"slug":"2019-18-882-babb-v-wilkie","term":"2019","title":"Does age discrimination require proof that age was the sole cause of a personnel action?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 55-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 55-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 23-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2019/18-882_d1o2.pdf","page_label":"file page 65, lines 23-53"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}