October Term 2004 · Docket 04-603
Does a state tax sale claim raise a substantial federal question?
The parties dispute whether federal law controls a state tax sale dispute.
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
Zagrans cited Merrell Dow to limit prior federal question cases.
Walton argued the case involves only federal law questions.
Gornstein argued federal law must supply the cause of action.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if federal law governs a state tax sale claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 18, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the case dismissed from state court.
the opposing side wants the case to proceed in state court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues federal law creates the cause of action.
the opposing side argues state law supplies the cause of action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked if Merrell Dow overruled quiet title cases.
Justice Kennedy asked about separate supporting case lines.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
Why it matters
This dispute determines where tax sale claims are heard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
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 15-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-45
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 23, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 45-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 45-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-43
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.