October Term 2007 · Docket 06-1321
Does the Age Discrimination Act cover federal retaliation claims?
Federal workers seek direct court access for age retaliation. The government argues existing civil service rules cover these disputes.
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. Garre argued the Age Discrimination Act does not prohibit retaliation.
Mr. Guerra argued federal workers lack remedies for age retaliation.
Justice Scalia questioned if plain language covers retaliation.
Chief Justice Roberts noted the complexity of existing civil service remedies.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- 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 13-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether federal employees can sue directly for age-based retaliation. The government argues the Civil Service Reform Act handles these disputes. the side that brought the case argues the Age Discrimination Act allows direct court access.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 19, 2008.
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 58, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-13
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants direct court access for age retaliation claims.
The government wants to limit these claims to civil service procedures.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-31
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the Age Discrimination Act covers retaliation.
The government argues the statute does not expressly prohibit retaliation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-31
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if retaliation counts as age discrimination.
Chief Justice Roberts asked how this adds to complex civil service remedies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
Why it matters
Federal workers need clear paths to challenge age-based retaliation. The outcome defines the scope of federal employment protections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-31
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 21-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-21
- 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 13-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
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 9-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 46, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 46, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-31
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.