October Term 2004 · Docket 02-1672
Can a teacher sue for damages after a school retaliates against a Title IX complaint?
A teacher claims a school punished her for reporting sex discrimination. The school argues only administrative fixes apply.
Verified source milestones
- — 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. Dellinger argued Title IX stands alone as the only major civil rights statute permitting retaliation claims.
Mr. Gornstein asserted administrative sanctions have never been imposed under Title IX.
Mr. Newsom clarified the scope of the available administrative remedy.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether Title IX allows private lawsuits for retaliation. The teacher seeks money damages. The school seeks to limit remedies to administrative fixes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 30, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
The teacher wants a private right to sue for money damages.
The school wants to limit remedies to administrative fixes only.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-19
What each side says
The teacher argues Title IX is the only major civil rights law allowing retaliation claims.
The school argues administrative sanctions have never been imposed under Title IX.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-19
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked if the teacher sought an administrative remedy.
Justice Kennedy asked if the core issue is a private cause of action for damages.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-17
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of Title IX protections. It determines whether victims of retaliation can seek financial compensation. It shapes how schools handle discrimination complaints.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-19
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 10, lines 33-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 1-17 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 1-17
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 49-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-19 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-19
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.