October Term 2006 · Docket 06-531
Can a preliminary injunction trigger attorney fee liability?
the sides that brought the case seek fees after a preliminary injunction. the opposing sides argue the injunction does not prove a federal law violation.
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
Justice Ginsburg asked if all preliminary judgments must be judged alike.
Justice Kennedy asked if a no-fee rule creates pressure to continue litigation.
Justice Kennedy asked if parties keep cases alive solely for attorney fees.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a preliminary injunction creates liability for attorney fees. the sides that brought the case argue the injunction proves a federal law violation. the opposing sides argue the injunction does not establish that violation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-29
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want attorney fees because they claim the injunction proves a federal law violation.
the opposing sides want no fees because they claim the injunction does not prove a federal law violation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue liability for fees and federal law violations go hand in hand.
the opposing sides argue a preliminary injunction does not determine a federal law violation occurred.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if evidence showed content was the actual criterion.
Justice Souter asked how to interpret the court's subsequent statement about that evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-15
Why it matters
This dispute defines when preliminary injunctions trigger fee liability. It affects how courts handle fee requests after temporary orders. It shapes the cost of seeking preliminary relief in federal court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
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 27-49 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-41 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-15
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 18, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 51-51 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 51-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 3-25 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 3-25
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.