October Term 2007 · Docket 06-766
Can New York force parties to use primaries for judicial nominations?
New York mandates party primaries for judicial nominations. Challengers claim this rule burdens voter participation.
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. Olson argued the primary process discouraged qualified candidates.
Mr. Olson claimed the process spawned expensive and corrupting fundraising.
Mr. Rossman stated the signature requirement was no barrier to participation.
Mr. Schwarz argued the district court found severe burdens on insurgents.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
New York requires political parties to select judicial candidates via primary. Challengers argue this rule burdens voter participation. The state claims the rule prevents corruption.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 3, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
What each side wants
New York wants the Court to uphold its mandatory primary rule.
Challengers want the Court to strike down the mandatory primary rule.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-21
What each side says
New York argues the rule prevents corrupt fundraising practices.
Challengers argue the rule imposes severe burdens on voters.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-21
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if burdensome registration requirements violate primary openness.
Justice Scalia asked if voluntary party adoption of primaries would also be unconstitutional.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-43
Why it matters
This case defines state power over judicial candidate selection. It balances party autonomy against voter access. The outcome shapes how states manage judicial elections.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-21
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 15-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 23-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 23-43
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 15-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-43 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-21
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.