October Term 2006 · Docket 05-1589
Can states require union consent for nonmember fee spending?
the sides that brought the case seek to strike down a state law. the opposing sides defend the statute.
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
General McKenna argued the statute limits fee use.
He said it requires nonmember consent for political spending.
Mr. West argued the statute burdens First Amendment rights.
He cited three points supporting his position.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests a state statute. The law limits union fee use. It requires nonmember consent for political spending.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the state statute.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the state statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute burdens First Amendment rights.
the opposing sides argue the statute protects election fairness.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked about state court interpretation.
Justice Kennedy asked if the Court can disregard state law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-47
Why it matters
The outcome defines state power over union funds. It shapes political speech rules. It affects public employee unions nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
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 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-47
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 7-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 7-29 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 7-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-39
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.