October Term 2000 · Docket 00-836
Did Florida's highest court change election laws?
the sides that brought the case claim the Florida Supreme Court altered statutory rules. the opposing sides assert the court applied existing state law.
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
Theodore Olson argued the state court rewrote laws.
Lawrence Tribe represented the opposing side.
The Court accepted the case for review.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 27-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This dispute centers on the validity of Florida's election procedures. One side argues the state court changed the law. The other side argues the court interpreted the law correctly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2000.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 27-29
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the state court decision invalidated.
the opposing sides want the state court decision upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-41
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the state court rewrote legislative statutes.
the opposing sides argue the state court applied existing Florida law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-41
What the justices asked
Did the state court change the law?
Did the state court interpret the law?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 27-29
Why it matters
The outcome defines the power of state courts over election rules. It clarifies the relationship between state legislatures and state judiciaries. It impacts the administration of future presidential elections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-41
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 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 27-29
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 27, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 43-33 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 43-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 15-41
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.