{"argument_date":"2020-12-08T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2020-12-08T00:00:00Z","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/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Shanmugam argued the case concerns interpreting delegation agreements.","Mr. Geyser argued the clause does not delegate gateway questions.","Justice Breyer asked who decides the delegation question, judge or arbitrator."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 45-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]}],"caption":"Harry Schein, Inc. v. Archer & White Sales, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:18.842165Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:18.871107Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The parties dispute whether a judge or an arbitrator decides if a specific claim falls under an arbitration clause.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 25-29"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2020-12-08T00:00:00Z","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/19-963.html","primary_docket":"19-963","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:20:24.210764Z","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 who decides if a dispute is arbitrable. One side wants the arbitrator to decide. The other side wants the judge to decide."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 25-29"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 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/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 31-33"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case wants the arbitrator to decide if the dispute is arbitrable.","the opposing side wants the judge to decide if the dispute is arbitrable."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 25-29"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the side that brought the case argues the contract clearly delegates arbitrability questions to the arbitrator.","the opposing side argues the contract exempts this specific dispute from any delegation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 25-29"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked about the basis for the presumption of arbitrability.","Chief Justice Roberts asked why a presumption against dividing actions exists here."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 45-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines who decides if a contract dispute goes to arbitration. It shapes how courts handle gateway questions in commercial contracts."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 25-29"}]},{"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 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 27-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 7-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 25-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 25-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 17-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 45-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 45-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 19-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 19-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 25-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 23-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 23-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 41-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 41-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 31-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 72, lines 31-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 25-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 21-35"}]}],"slug":"2020-19-963-harry-schein-inc-v-archer-white-sales-inc","term":"2020","title":"Who decides if a contract dispute goes to arbitration?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 36, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 39-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 39-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2020/19-963_2c8f.pdf","page_label":"file page 69, lines 25-29"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}