October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1203
Does the ADA strip state sovereign immunity for prison disability claims?
The dispute centers on whether federal disability law overrides state immunity in prison cases.
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
General Clement argued the ADA validly abrogates state immunity.
Mr. Bagenstos argued the ADA is congruent with prison needs.
Mr. Schaerr argued the Rehabilitation Act requires intentional conduct.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-46 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal disability law against state power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 9, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-46 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-46
What each side wants
The United States wants the ADA to override state immunity in prison cases.
Georgia wants to keep its sovereign immunity from federal disability suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-39
What each side says
The United States argues the ADA is a valid exercise of congressional power.
Georgia argues the ADA exceeds Congress's authority over state prisons.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-39
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if constitutional barriers exist for these claims.
Justice Scalia asked about exhaustion requirements under prison laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-46 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
Why it matters
This case defines the balance between federal disability rights and state control.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-39
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 7-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-54 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-54 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 41-3 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 41-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 23-46 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 23-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-13
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 15, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 5-45 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 5-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 7-23 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 7-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 31-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 31-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-39
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.