October Term 2007 · Docket 06-1322
Does an EEOC intake form count as a formal charge?
The dispute centers on whether a preliminary intake form satisfies the legal requirement for a formal charge before filing an age discrimination lawsuit.
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 side that brought the case argued Congress required timely notice and conciliation before a suit.
the opposing side argued the intake form initiates the statutory process.
Justice Alito asked if an EEOC error in notifying the employer invalidates the charge.
Justice Souter asked why the plaintiff should bear the penalty for an EEOC mistake.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-51
- 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 21-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-21
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case examines the procedural steps required before an employee can sue for age discrimination. The core issue is the legal status of the initial EEOC intake form. the side that brought the case argues this form is not a formal charge. the opposing side argues it serves as a valid charge. The Court must define the trigger for the statutory waiting period.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 9-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 6, 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 employer wants the Court to declare the intake form invalid as a charge.
The employee wants the Court to declare the intake form a valid charge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 9-11
What each side says
The employer argues the intake form lacks the legal status of a formal charge.
The employee argues the intake form initiates the statutory conciliation process.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 9-11
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if the form explicitly stated it was not a charge.
Justice Ginsburg asked if EEOC officers complete the formal charge for unrepresented filers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-21
Why it matters
The outcome defines the start date for the statutory waiting period. It determines whether employees must wait for a formal charge or an intake form. This rule affects the timing of all age discrimination lawsuits. It shapes the administrative burden on the EEOC. It impacts the rights of unrepresented employees in federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 9-11
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 29-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-51
- 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 21-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-21
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 29, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 9-11
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.