October Term 2008 · Docket 08-453
Can State Attorneys General Enforce Federal Banking Rules Against National Banks?
The dispute centers on whether state officials can enforce federal banking regulations against national banks.
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. Waxman argued Section 484 preempts state investigative machinery.
Ms. Underwood stated state attorneys general cannot enforce OCC regulations.
Mr. Stewart explained the threat state enforcement poses to the banking system.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-29
- 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 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal preemption over state enforcement powers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 13-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 28, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-51
What each side wants
The state side wants to enforce federal rules against national banks.
The bank side wants to block state enforcement of those rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 13-23
What each side says
The state side argues federal law preempts state enforcement machinery.
The bank side argues state enforcement creates inconsistent legal standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 13-23
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if fifty-one enforcers would reach the same result.
Justice Ginsburg asked if the bank superintendent has enforcement authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-29
- 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 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
Why it matters
This conflict determines who controls compliance with federal banking laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 13-23
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 4, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-29
- 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 19-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
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 23, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 23-11 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 23-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 13-23
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.