October Term 2007 · Docket 06-989
Can parties expand FAA review grounds?
Parties dispute if contracts can add legal error review to arbitration awards.
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
Ms. Brinkmann asserted the FAA provides exclusive grounds for vacating awards.
She stated those grounds do not include legal error.
Mr. Phillips argued the parties agreed to specific review procedures.
He noted the agreement allowed district court review after the award.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if the Federal Arbitration Act limits court review of arbitration awards. The Act lists specific grounds for vacating awards. Parties argue whether contracts can add new review standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-27
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the district court to enforce the contractual review clause.
the opposing side wants the court to limit review to statutory grounds only.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-49
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the contract defines the scope of judicial review.
the opposing side argues the FAA provides exclusive grounds for vacating awards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-49
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if nonbinding arbitration exists.
Justice Kennedy asked for a standard to distinguish valid review clauses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-3
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between private arbitration and public court oversight. It determines whether parties can contractually expand judicial review of arbitration awards. This affects the finality of commercial dispute resolution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-49
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 19-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-51
- 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 19-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 39-39 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 39-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-3
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 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 11-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 11-49
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.