October Term 2007 · Docket 06-457
Does Maine's tobacco delivery law violate federal preemption?
Maine requires carriers to follow state rules for tobacco delivery. The association argues this violates federal law.
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
Maine's lawyer said Congress encouraged states to handle youth access.
The association's lawyer said the law relates to carrier service.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the law dictates carrier actions.
Justice Souter noted the goal was ending state patchwork.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- 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 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether federal law blocks Maine from regulating tobacco delivery.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 27-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 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
Maine wants to enforce its tobacco delivery rules.
The association wants the state law struck down.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 27-7
What each side says
Maine argues Congress left tobacco regulation to states.
The association argues the state law relates to carrier service.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 27-7
What the justices asked
Does the state law relate to carrier service?
Did Congress intend to preempt state tobacco rules?
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-51
Why it matters
This case defines state power over tobacco delivery. It shapes how states regulate public health risks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 27-7
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 21-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 7-17
- 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 11-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 49-51
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 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 27-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 41-13 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 41-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 27-7 — Transcript, file page 42, lines 27-7
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.