October Term 2006 · Docket 06-618
Can a Member of Congress Be Sued for Hiring Decisions?
A former staffer claims his employer violated labor laws. The Senator argues Congress cannot be sued for such acts.
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
Ms. Manning argued the case involves a legislative act.
Mr. Salzman argued the office has absolute immunity.
Mr. Caballero argued the decision is not a legislative act.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-37 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a Member of Congress can be sued for employment decisions. The former staffer wants a court to review his claim. The Senator wants the court to dismiss the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-37 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 24, 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 57, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-13
What each side wants
The staffer wants a court to review his employment claim.
The Senator wants the court to dismiss the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-37 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-37
What each side says
The staffer argues the office is a regular employer.
The Senator argues Congress has special immunity from such suits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-37 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-37
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked which pages contain the relevant text.
Justice Souter asked why the lower court gave no explanation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of congressional power. It determines if Congress must follow standard labor laws. It affects how Members of Congress manage their staff.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-37 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-37
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-25
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 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-37 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-37 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-37
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.