October Term 2002 · Docket 01-705
Does a missed 1993 deadline bar coal companies from paying benefits?
Coal companies argue a missed deadline voids their payment duty. The government argues the deadline is not strict.
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
Ms. McDowell argued the deadline is mandatory but not jurisdictional.
Mr. Roberts argued the word shall means may.
Mr. Buscemi argued the companies should not get a windfall.
Mr. Sutton cited the assignment provision in the brief.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a 1993 deadline is mandatory. It affects who pays for retired coal miners.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 2002.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-9
What each side wants
The government wants coal companies to pay benefits.
Coal companies want to avoid paying benefits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-5
What each side says
The government argues the deadline is not strict.
Coal companies argue the deadline is mandatory.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-5
What the justices asked
Does the word shall create a strict deadline?
Does a missed deadline void the payment duty?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-9
Why it matters
This case determines who pays for retired coal miners. It affects the financial burden on coal companies. It impacts the availability of benefits for workers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-5
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 5-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 5-9
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 41-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 41-27 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 41-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-5
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.