October Term 2005 · Docket 04-698
Who must prove a school violated special education law?
Parents and school districts disagree on who must prove a special education plan failed.
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. Hurd argued the law protects disabled children.
Mr. Garre described the parents' private school enrollment.
Mr. Salmons argued traditional burden rules apply here.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- 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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks who bears the burden of proof in special education disputes.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 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 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
What each side wants
Parents want the school to prove the plan was appropriate.
Schools want parents to prove the plan was inappropriate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-3
What each side says
Parents argue the law protects children from discrimination.
Schools argue traditional rules place the burden on challengers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-3
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked if states can set burden rules.
Justice Scalia asked if federal base schools are covered.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
Why it matters
This dispute determines who pays for private school tuition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-3
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 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-15
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 27, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 5-21 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 5-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-3
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.