October Term 2008 · Docket 08-441
Does the Age Act require direct evidence for a mixed motive instruction?
The dispute centers on whether plaintiffs must present direct evidence to receive a specific jury instruction.
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. Blatt argued that Desert Palace largely resolves the case.
She stated the question is whether a direct evidence requirement applies.
Mr. Phillips argued the issues are unbelievably complicated.
He suggested the parties are ships passing in the night.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-3
- 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 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the evidentiary standard for age discrimination claims. the side that brought the case seeks a lower burden of proof. the opposing side argues for a stricter direct evidence requirement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 31, 2009.
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 58, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-21
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to reject the direct evidence requirement.
the opposing side wants the Court to uphold the direct evidence requirement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-3
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that Desert Palace resolves the case against a direct evidence mandate.
the opposing side argues that the side that brought the case and the opposing side are addressing different complex issues.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-3
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the Court ever required direct evidence.
Justice Alito asked if Mt. Healthy involved a bench trial.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
Why it matters
This case defines the proof needed for age discrimination claims. It sets the standard for how judges evaluate mixed motive evidence. The outcome shapes future litigation strategies for employers and employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-3
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 43-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-3
- 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 25-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-49
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 18, lines 45-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 45-35 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 45-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-3 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-3
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.