October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1395
Can spies sue for unpaid secret work?
The dispute centers on whether federal law bars spies from suing for compensation.
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. Clement argued this case mirrors a 130-year-old spy dispute.
Mr. Burman noted the government did not challenge due process rights.
Justice Stevens asked if a spy has no legal recourse at all.
Justice Scalia questioned if spy work blocks salary claims entirely.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests if the government can block spy pay claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-13
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 11, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a court order for their unpaid wages.
the opposing sides want the dismissal of the pay claim to stand.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-13
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue spies retain legal rights to their earned salary.
the opposing sides argue secrecy rules bar any legal claim for pay.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-13
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if this resembles an unenforceable gift promise.
Justice Scalia asked if spies can sue for regular salary.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
Why it matters
This defines the legal limits on government secrecy claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-13
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 25-29 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-45
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 26, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 31-7 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 31-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-13 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-13
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.