October Term 2009 · Docket 08-861

Does the SEC's control over the accounting board satisfy the Constitution?

the sides that brought the case claim the board lacks direct presidential oversight. The government argues the SEC's authority provides sufficient control.

Official caption: Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Bd.
Latest argument session: 2009-12-07
Latest official Court activity: 2009-12-07
Latest verified event: Argued
Sources analyzed through: Official Transcript

Verified source milestones

2026-08-29 — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
2026-08-29 — 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 · 2009-12-07

What happened at the argument
Mr. Carvin argued the board lacks direct presidential control.
General Kagan argued the SEC's oversight satisfies constitutional requirements.
Justice Ginsburg questioned the board's independence from the SEC.
Justice Scalia asked if the SEC could stop board actions.

Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- 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 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-5 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 39-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 9-35 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 9-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-49 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 49-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 3-31 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 3-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 49-23 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 49-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 29-49 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 29-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 39-43

A citizen's guide to the whole case

What this case is about

The case tests whether the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board violates the Appointments Clause. the sides that brought the case argue the board operates without direct presidential removal power. The government contends the SEC's oversight creates a valid chain of control.