October Term 2009 · Docket 08-678
Can parties appeal a judge's order to reveal attorney-client secrets?
Mohawk Industries argues that immediate appeals prevent inconsistent rulings on privilege. Carpenter contends that finality rules must block such appeals.
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
Mohawk Industries argues that immediate appeals prevent inconsistent rulings on privilege.
Carpenter argues that finality rules must block immediate appeals of privilege orders.
Justice Sotomayor questioned if exceptions undermine the purpose of encouraging frank communication.
Justice Scalia asked if interlocutory appeals should exist for privilege issues.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-13
- 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 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-37
- 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 21-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-47
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether federal courts must allow immediate appeals of orders compelling disclosure of attorney-client communications. Mohawk Industries seeks to overturn a lower court's refusal to hear such an appeal. Carpenter defends the lower court's decision to deny the appeal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 5, 2009.
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
Mohawk Industries wants the Court to allow immediate appeals of privilege orders.
Carpenter wants the Court to uphold the lower court's denial of the appeal.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-33
What each side says
Mohawk Industries argues that immediate appeals prevent inconsistent rulings on privilege.
Carpenter argues that finality rules must block immediate appeals of privilege orders.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-33
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if creating exceptions undermines the purpose of encouraging frank communication.
Justice Scalia asked if interlocutory appeals should exist for privilege issues.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-37
- 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 21-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-47
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether parties can challenge privilege orders immediately. It affects the consistency of federal court rulings on attorney-client secrets. It balances the need for finality against the risk of inconsistent privilege decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-33
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 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-13
- 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 41-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-37
- 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 21-47 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-47
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 47-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 47-31 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 47-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 13-33
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.