October Term 2009 · Docket 08-1119
Can Congress ban truthful bankruptcy ads?
Law firms argue a federal law bans truthful speech. The government says the law targets fraud.
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. Brunstad argued the law is unconstitutional. He said it bans truthful information about lawful activity.
Mr. Jay argued the statute has a safe harbor. He stated using specific language avoids legal problems.
Mr. Brunstad argued the law harms clients. He claimed it creates an impossible situation for attorneys.
Mr. Jay defined a debt relief agency. He described it as a person providing services for pay.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests a federal bankruptcy statute. It restricts what debt relief agencies can say. The firms claim the law is unconstitutional. The government defends the statute's validity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2009.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 5-7
What each side wants
The firms want the law struck down. They seek to advertise lawful services freely.
The government wants the law upheld. It aims to stop misleading consumer ads.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-43
What each side says
The firms argue the law bans truthful speech. They claim it creates impossible compliance standards.
The government argues the law targets fraud. It asserts the statute protects consumers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-43
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why the phrase has meaning in one section but not another.
Justice Kennedy asked if Congress could pass a narrower statute to ban improper advice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of commercial speech. It determines how agencies advertise legal services. It balances consumer protection against free expression.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-43
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 37-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-35
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 31, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-51 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 21-43
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.