October Term 2007 · Docket 06-1505
Who bears the burden of proving an age-based practice was reasonable?
The dispute centers on which party must prove an employment practice was reasonable under the ADEA.
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
Mr. Russell argued the case presents a narrow question about disparate impact.
Chief Justice Roberts noted the ADEA prohibition is narrower than Title VII.
Justice Kennedy asked if a nondiscriminating alternative makes a practice unreasonable.
Justice Alito questioned if a practice can be age-based and reasonable simultaneously.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-7
- 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 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the allocation of the burden of persuasion for the reasonable factor other than age defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 2008.
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 sides that brought the case want the employer to bear the burden of persuasion.
the opposing sides want the employee to bear the burden of persuasion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute makes this an affirmative defense for the employer.
the opposing sides argue the employee must prove the practice was unreasonable.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
What the justices asked
Does a nondiscriminating alternative make a reasonable practice unreasonable?
Is it a strain to say a practice was age-based but reasonable?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
Why it matters
This determines which party must prove the reasonableness of an employment practice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
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 37-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-7
- 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 31-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
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 17, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-7 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
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.