October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1264
Who decides if a contract is void?
A check-cashing company wants a judge to dismiss a lawsuit. A customer wants an arbitrator to hear the case.
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. Landau argued federal law controls the dispute.
Mr. Bland argued state law remains valid.
justice_questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Buckeye Check Cashing seeks a court dismissal. Cardegna seeks arbitration. The dispute centers on who decides contract validity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 29, 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 55, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-27
What each side wants
Buckeye Check Cashing wants a judge to dismiss the case.
Cardegna wants an arbitrator to decide the dispute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
What each side says
Buckeye Check Cashing argues federal law preempts state rules.
Cardegna argues state law controls contract validity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked how to describe the court's role.
Chief Justice Roberts asked about void versus voidable contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
Why it matters
This case defines who decides contract disputes. It shapes access to arbitration. It impacts consumer protection laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
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 11, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-7
- 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 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 1-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 1-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 1-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 1-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-7
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 37-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 37-33 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 37-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 45-47
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.