October Term 2000 · Docket 00-596
Does federal law block state bans on cigarette ads near schools?
Tobacco firms claim federal law preempts state ad restrictions. State officials argue the ban targets health, not speech.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Jeffrey Sutton argued the state ban is a health-based prohibition.
He claimed this triggers federal preemption of state laws.
General Underwood argued the state rule is not preempted.
He stated the ban is not based on smoking and health.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if federal cigarette laws block state ad rules. the sides that brought the case seek to strike down the Massachusetts ban. the opposing sides want to keep the state regulation in force.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2001.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-19
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the state ad ban.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the state ad ban.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-15
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue federal law preempts state restrictions on ad locations.
the opposing sides argue the state ban is not based on smoking and health.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-15
What the justices asked
Does the federal law expressly preempt state ad location limits?
Is the state ban a prohibition based on smoking and health?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-19
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary between state and federal power. It determines if states can restrict tobacco ads near children. The outcome shapes public health policy and commercial speech rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-15
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-19
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 48, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 48, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-15
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.