October Term 2001 · Docket 00-1614
Does a 180-day filing deadline bar claims for ongoing discrimination?
Amtrak argues a strict deadline bars old claims. Morgan argues ongoing harm keeps claims alive.
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
Amtrak's lawyer cited prior cases to support a strict deadline.
Morgan's lawyer argued that ongoing harm prevents claims from expiring.
Amtrak's lawyer noted a circuit split against the Ninth Circuit view.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 7-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a time limit bars discrimination claims based on continuous harm.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 29-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2002.
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 55, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 7-11
What each side wants
Amtrak wants the court to bar claims filed after 180 days.
Morgan wants the court to allow claims based on ongoing harm.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 29-47
What each side says
Amtrak argues the deadline starts when the first unlawful act occurs.
Morgan argues ongoing violations keep the claim from becoming stale.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 29-47
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if the case was submitted.
Justice O'Connor noted a lopsided split among the circuits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 7-11
Why it matters
The outcome defines how long workers can sue for continuous discrimination.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 29-47
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 55, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 7-11
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 19, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 29-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 25-15 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 25-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-9 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 11-7 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 11-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 29-47 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 29-47
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.