October Term 2005 · Docket 04-1332
Does a dismissed federal tort claim bar a later Bivens suit?
the sides that brought the case seek to dismiss a Bivens claim. the opposing sides argue the prior dismissal does not bar it.
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
the sides that brought the case argue Congress protected federal employee morale.
the opposing sides argue the court of appeals lacked jurisdiction.
justice_scaia_questioned_if_the_bar_exceeds_res_judicata
justice_souter_questioned_if_the_bar_resembles_res_judicata
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-45
- 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 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a prior federal tort claim dismissal blocks a later Bivens action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Bivens claim dismissed as barred.
the opposing sides want the Bivens claim to proceed.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the prior dismissal creates a complete bar.
the opposing sides argue the dismissal does not preclude the new suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the bar exceeds res judicata.
Justice Souter asked if the bar resembles res judicata.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of preclusion in federal civil rights litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
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 5-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-45
- 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 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
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 24, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-33 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 49-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-39
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.