October Term 2009 · Docket 08-974
Does a discriminatory hiring test create a new legal claim each time a city hires someone?
the sides that brought the case argue each hire from a biased list creates a new injury. The City argues the injury ends when the list expires.
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
the sides that brought the case argue each hire from the biased list creates a new injury.
The City argues the injury ends when the eligibility list expires.
questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-27
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests when a discriminatory hiring practice legally ends. the sides that brought the case claim each new hire from the list harms them. The City claims the harm stops when the list expires.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 22, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a new legal claim for every hire from the list.
The City wants the legal claim to end when the list expires.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue each hire from the biased list creates a new injury.
The City argues the injury ends when the eligibility list expires.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked why the legal theory is the best policy.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if each hire creates a new cause of action.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-27
Why it matters
This dispute defines when a discriminatory hiring practice legally ends. It determines if cities face repeated liability for old lists. It shapes how employers manage hiring timelines and legal risks.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
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 41-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 13-37 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 13-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-27
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 16, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 39-25 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 39-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 17-13 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 17-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-15
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.