{"argument_date":"2022-04-18T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2022-04-18T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2021","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Heintz argued that Congress passed a waiver statute to protect workers on federal projects.","Mr. Stewart argued that the case is not moot despite recent state legislative changes.","Justice Kagan questioned the strength of non-textual arguments presented by the government.","Chief Justice Roberts asked whether state workers' compensation laws would apply to state-owned facilities."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 53-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 39-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 49-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-13"}]}],"caption":"United States v. Washington","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:17.353995Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:17.356927Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T23:57:16.277061Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"}],"case_status":"decided","dek":"The dispute centers on whether a state waiver statute allows Washington to apply its workers' compensation rules to federal contractors.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 49-27"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2022-04-18T00:00:00Z","maturity":"post_opinion","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2021","official_disposition_urls":["https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/21pdf/596us2r51_6479.pdf"],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/21-404.html","primary_docket":"21-404","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T16:48:10.957042Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The United States argues that state laws cannot regulate federal contractors. Washington argues that a federal waiver statute permits such regulation."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 49-27"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2022."],"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/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 29-31"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The United States wants the court to invalidate the state law.","Washington wants the court to uphold the state law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 49-27"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The United States argues that state laws cannot regulate federal contractors.","Washington argues that a federal waiver statute allows states to regulate federal contractors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 49-27"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked how the waiver statute works if the state owned the facilities.","Justice Kagan asked if the government's real interest is to vacate the lower court judgment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 53-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 39-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether states can regulate federal contractors using state workers' compensation laws."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 49-27"}]},{"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 27-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 27-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 43-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 35-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 35-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 53-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 47-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 31-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 31-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 49-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 16, lines 49-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 39-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 39-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 37-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 37-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 31-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 29-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 66, lines 29-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 53-13"}]}],"slug":"2021-21-404-united-states-v-washington","term":"2021","title":"Can states regulate federal contractors under state workers' compensation laws?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 31-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 30, lines 31-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 49-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2021/21-404_4246.pdf","page_label":"file page 62, lines 49-27"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":"latest_argument_date","updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}