October Term 2003 · Docket 02-1205
Does a four-year federal limit apply to state employment discrimination claims?
The parties dispute whether a federal statute sets the deadline for state law employment claims.
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. Gorman argued Congress created a bright line rule.
Mr. Phillips argued the term is not a term of art.
Mr. Garre argued the claims face a uniform limit.
Mr. Newsom argued states need a clear rule.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 2-26 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 2-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 24-46 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 24-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 42-47 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 42-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 20-22
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of a federal statute of limitations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 2-26 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 2-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 24-46 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 24-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 42-47 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 42-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 16-32
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 24, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 20-22
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a four-year deadline for their claims.
the opposing sides want a shorter deadline for their claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 2-26 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 2-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 24-46 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 24-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 42-47 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 42-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 16-32
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the federal statute creates a clear rule.
the opposing sides argue the phrase lacks a single uniform meaning.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 2-26 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 2-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 24-46 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 24-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 42-47 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 42-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 16-32
What the justices asked
The Chief Justice asked if the case was submitted.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 20-22
Why it matters
The outcome defines the deadline for federal civil actions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 2-26 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 2-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 24-46 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 24-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 42-47 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 42-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 16-32
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 6-14 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 20-22
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 17, lines 2-26 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 2-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 24-46 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 24-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 42-47 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 42-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 2-26 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 2-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 24-46 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 24-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 42-47 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 42-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 16-32 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 16-32
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.