October Term 2010 · Docket 09-1163
Does Exemption 2 cover only internal personnel rules?
The dispute centers on whether Exemption 2 shields only internal personnel rules or broader internal agency matters.
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
Mr. Mann argued the plain language of Exemption 2 dictates a narrow category.
He stated this category relates solely to internal personnel policies and rules.
Justice Alito highlighted the long-standing reliance on the Crooker decision.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the meaning of Congress limiting the amendment to Exemption 7.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of Exemption 2 under the Freedom of Information Act. the side that brought the case Milner seeks records. The Department of the Navy withholds them. The core issue is the definition of internal personnel rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 1, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
Milner wants the Court to limit Exemption 2 to internal personnel rules.
The Navy wants the Court to maintain the broad Crooker interpretation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
What each side says
Milner argues the plain language of Exemption 2 dictates a narrow category.
The Navy argues Crooker remains the leading decision and commands reliance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked why the argument does not show acceptance of Crooker.
Justice Alito noted greater security concerns since 1981 regarding information disclosure.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 26-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-50
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of FOIA exemptions. It determines which internal agency records remain confidential. It affects public access to government information. It clarifies the relationship between Exemption 2 and Exemption 7.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
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 26-34 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 26-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 52-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 52-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 20-42 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 20-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-50
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 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
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.