October Term 2008 · Docket 07-773
Does the Federal Arbitration Act override federal court jurisdiction rules?
the side that brought the case argues the Arbitration Act cancels federal jurisdiction limits. the opposing side argues the Act only enforces contracts.
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
Mr. Ortiz argued the Act impliedly repeals the well-pleaded complaint requirement.
Mr. Ortiz stated the real party in interest dispute consumed much time.
Justice Roberts explained that throwing out the agreement raises federal court access questions.
Justice Ginsburg noted the ouster doctrine came from courts refusing to enforce agreements.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if a federal statute overrides standard court access rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 6, 2008.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-37
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Act to cancel federal jurisdiction limits.
the opposing side wants the Act to only enforce private contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-15
What each side says
the side that brought the case claims the Act impliedly repeals the well-pleaded complaint rule.
the opposing side claims the Act does not change federal jurisdiction standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-15
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked why specific words cut back on jurisdiction.
Justice Scalia asked if the general command applies to equity actions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
Why it matters
This dispute defines the boundary between private arbitration and public courts. It determines how easily parties can force disputes out of federal tribunals. The outcome shapes the balance of power in commercial litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-15
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 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-7
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 13-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 13-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 3-15 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 3-15
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.