{"argument_date":"2020-10-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-10-06T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2020","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","paragraphs":["The pharmacy argues the law targets drug middlemen, not plan administrators.","The industry group argues the law compels ERISA plans to follow state procedures.","The pharmacy claims low reimbursements drive pharmacists out of business.","The industry group claims the law creates a thicket of varying state laws."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 42-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 42-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 42-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 40-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 40-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 46-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 26-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 26-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 32-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 32-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 10-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 10-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 14-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 14-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 40-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 10-20"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 34-52"}]}],"caption":"Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Assn.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.006868Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:19.031331Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"A pharmacy argues state price rules force ERISA plans to follow local laws. The industry group claims this breaks federal uniformity.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 10-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 10-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 14-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 14-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 10-20"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-10-06T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2020","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/18-540.html","primary_docket":"18-540","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:27:58.809273Z","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 whether a state law regulating drug reimbursement prices conflicts with federal ERISA rules. The pharmacy seeks to keep the state law valid. The industry group seeks to strike the law down."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 10-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 10-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 14-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 14-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 10-20"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 2020."],"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/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 22-24"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The pharmacy wants the state law to remain in effect.","The industry group wants the state law struck down."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 10-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 10-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 14-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 14-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 10-20"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The pharmacy argues the law does not directly regulate plan administration.","The industry group argues the law forces plans to follow state-specific rules."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 10-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 10-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 14-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 14-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 10-20"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Breyer asked if a state law setting a maximum price for aspirin is preempted.","Justice Thomas asked if the pharmacy must rebill if it wins its appeal."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 42-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 42-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 42-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 40-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 40-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 46-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 26-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 26-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 32-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 32-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 40-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 40-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 20-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 22-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 22-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 34-52"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether states can set drug reimbursement prices for ERISA plans. It affects whether pharmacists can survive in communities with low reimbursement rates. It shapes the balance between state consumer protection and federal plan uniformity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 10-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 10-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 14-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 67, lines 14-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 10-20","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 10-20"}]},{"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 42-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 42-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 42-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 40-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 40-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 46-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 8-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 26-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 26-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 32-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 32-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 12-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 12-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 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900 violate federal ERISA preemption?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 26, lines 52-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 10-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 41, lines 10-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/18-540_8njq.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 24-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 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