October Term 2000 · Docket 99-1379
Does the Federal Arbitration Act cover employment contracts?
The dispute centers on whether the Federal Arbitration Act applies to employment agreements.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Mr. Nagle stated the Act favors arbitration.
Mr. Nagle noted the Act covers Commerce Clause limits.
Mr. Rubin argued the focus is on 1925 intent.
Mr. Rubin claimed the exclusion should remain symmetrical.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 5-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Federal Arbitration Act favors arbitration. It contains an exception for certain workers. The parties dispute the scope of this exception.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 2000.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to apply the Act to employment contracts.
the opposing side wants the Court to exclude employment contracts from the Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-13
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Act covers the limits of Commerce Clause power.
the opposing side argues the 1925 statute intended a specific exclusion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-13
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked about the focus of the Court's inquiry.
The Chief Justice asked about the symmetry of statutory sections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 5-7
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal arbitration law. It determines which workers can be forced to arbitrate disputes. It affects the balance between statutory exceptions and federal policy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-13
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 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 5-7
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 26, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-13
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.