October Term 2010 · Docket 09-1036
Does a veteran's disability excuse a late appeal?
Veterans argue disability excuses late appeals. The government says strict deadlines apply.
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
Ms. Blatt argued the Federal Circuit decision forecloses judicial review.
She stated the disability prevents timely filing with the Veterans Court.
Mr. Miller argued the Court reaffirmed statutory time limits as jurisdictional.
He cited the longstanding treatment of appeal time limits in Bowles v. Russell.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- 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 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a veteran's disability excuses a late appeal. The government insists strict deadlines apply. The veteran argues disability prevents timely filing.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-11
What each side wants
The veteran wants the court to excuse the late filing due to disability.
The government wants the court to enforce the strict statutory deadline.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-7
What each side says
The veteran argues disability prevents timely filing with the Veterans Court.
The government argues statutory time limits are mandatory and jurisdictional.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-7
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why the statutory time limit is not dispositive.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the historical context of the notice of appeal term.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-9
Why it matters
Veterans with disabilities face strict filing deadlines. A ruling affects access to benefits. The outcome determines whether disability excuses late appeals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-7
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 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 41-9
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 26, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 51-19 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 51-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 51-7
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.