October Term 2006 · Docket 05-1345
Does public ownership exempt local waste laws from dormant Commerce Clause review?
the sides that brought the case argue local flow control laws favor public entities. the opposing sides claim public ownership justifies these restrictions.
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 claim these laws block out-of-state competitors.
the opposing sides argue public ownership serves the public interest.
justice_breyer_noted_public_ownership_differs_from_private_franchises
justice_ginsburg_noted_prior_cases_assumed_private_actors
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether the dormant Commerce Clause bars local laws that favor public waste haulers. the sides that brought the case seek to strike down these ordinances. the opposing sides want the Court to uphold them.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 5-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 8, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the local flow control ordinances.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the local flow control ordinances.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 5-41
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue these laws impose severe barriers to interstate commerce.
the opposing sides argue public ownership justifies these local restrictions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 5-41
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the Constitution forbids public ownership of waste industries.
Justice Ginsburg asked if prior cases addressed the public-private distinction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-15
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of local control over waste management. It determines whether public entities receive special treatment in commerce law. The outcome shapes how states regulate essential services.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 5-41
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 35-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 9, 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 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 5-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 5-41 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 5-41
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.