October Term 2001 · Docket 00-878
Can federal courts review state utility commission actions?
the sides that brought the case seek federal review of state commission orders. the opposing sides oppose this jurisdiction.
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
the sides that brought the case assert federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction.
the opposing sides cite Ex parte Young jurisprudence regarding state officials.
chief_justice_rehnquist_asked_about_name_pronunciation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests federal court power over state agencies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 5, 2001.
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 55, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-29
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want federal courts to review state commission orders.
the opposing sides want state courts to handle these disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-25
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue federal law grants jurisdiction over state agencies.
the opposing sides argue state officials must be named as defendants.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-25
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Rehnquist asked if he pronounced the advocate's name correctly.
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 55, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 27-29
Why it matters
This dispute defines federal oversight of state utility regulators.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-25
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 55, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 55, 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 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 49-21 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 49-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 17-39 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 17-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 39-13 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 39-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 7-25
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.