October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1160
Does the ADEA ban practices with disparate impact on older workers?
the sides that brought the case seek a disparate impact ban. The City argues the statute lacks this rule.
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. Goldstein argued the ADEA embodies Congress' determination against age discrimination.
Mr. Goldstein stated the Act prohibits practices lacking reasonable business justification.
Mr. Nager argued mere statistical correlations do not create a prima facie case.
Justice Breyer questioned the practical application of the business necessity standard.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. the sides that brought the case argue the law bans practices that harm older workers without business justification. The City argues the statute only bans intentional discrimination. The dispute centers on statutory interpretation and lower court rulings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 3, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-35
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to recognize a disparate impact claim under the ADEA.
The City wants the Court to reject the disparate impact theory.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-19
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the ADEA prohibits practices lacking reasonable business justification.
The City argues the statute does not contain a disparate impact provision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-19
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if the lack of business justification is an affirmative defense.
Justice Kennedy asked if the regulation interprets the prohibitory section of the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of federal age discrimination protections. It determines whether employers face liability for neutral practices that harm older workers. This affects hiring, compensation, and workforce composition decisions nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-19
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 25-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-13
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 15-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 41-19
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.