October Term 2003 · Docket 02-1343
Can states ban specific car models?
Car makers argue federal law blocks state vehicle bans. California officials claim local rules fit within federal limits.
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
Mr. Phillips cited the 1967 Clean Air Act.
Mr. Olson warned of a patchwork of state rules.
Chief Justice Rehnquist closed the argument session.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 17-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state power over vehicle sales. the sides that brought the case seek a federal preemption ruling. the opposing sides defend their local emission rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 17-21
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the state rules.
the opposing sides want the Court to keep the state rules valid.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue federal law preempts state vehicle bans.
the opposing sides argue their rules fit within federal law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
What the justices asked
Does federal law block state vehicle bans?
Can states set unique vehicle standards?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 17-21
Why it matters
This dispute shapes state control over car sales. It defines the boundary between federal and state power. It affects how states manage air quality.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
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 5-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 17-21
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 20, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 35-15 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 35-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 37-27 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 37-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 25-45 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 25-45
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.