October Term 2010 · Docket 09-1205
Can a state court bind absent class members to a federal denial of class certification?
the sides that brought the case argue a state court cannot bind them to a federal denial of class certification. the opposing sides argue the state court must respect that federal ruling.
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 absent class members cannot be bound without notice and opportunity to be heard.
the opposing sides argue the federal denial of class certification deserves respect in state court.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-30
- 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 32-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-52
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a state court can bind absent class members to a federal denial of class certification. the sides that brought the case argue they were not bound by the prior federal proceeding. the opposing sides argue the state court must respect the federal ruling on class standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-30
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 18, 2011.
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
the sides that brought the case want the state court to ignore the federal denial of class certification.
the opposing sides want the state court to respect the federal denial of class certification.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-30
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue absent class members cannot be bound without notice and opportunity to be heard.
the opposing sides argue the federal denial of class certification deserves respect in state court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-30
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if a state court must follow a federal denial of class certification.
Justice Ginsburg asked if a federal denial of class certification deserves respect in state court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-52
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether state courts can bind absent class members to federal rulings. It affects the finality of class certification denials across state and federal courts. It shapes the rights of individuals in multi-district litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-30
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 38-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 38-50
- 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 32-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-36 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-10 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-52 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-52
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 25, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-30 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-30
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.