October Term 2008 · Docket 07-463
Can a federal court block a nationwide rule based on one local injury?
the sides that brought the case argue a single local injury cannot support a nationwide ban on a federal rule.
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. Kneedler argued the lower court's nationwide ban violated Article III standing principles.
Mr. Kenna argued a facial challenge is valid if the rule applies to plaintiffs.
Justice Souter questioned the standard for showing a specific threatened injury.
Justice Breyer asked if Congress can authorize general challenges to agency rules.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of federal court power. the sides that brought the case seek to limit judicial reach. the opposing sides seek to preserve broad review rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 8, 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 court to limit the ban to the specific local injury.
the opposing sides want the court to allow a nationwide ban based on the rule's existence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-37
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Article III standing requires a specific, concrete injury to support relief.
the opposing sides argue a general rule challenge is valid if the rule applies to them.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-37
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if a specific threatened injury is required in this context.
Justice Breyer asked if Congress can authorize general challenges to rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-5
Why it matters
This dispute defines the scope of federal judicial power. It determines how broadly courts can block government rules. It affects the balance between local harm and national policy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-37
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 13-27 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-5
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 26, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 37-37
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.