October Term 2010 · Docket 09-1454
Does a plaintiff retain standing after dropping a constitutional claim?
The dispute centers on whether a case remains justiciable when a plaintiff stops challenging a lower court 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
Mr. Kroger argued the Court should dismiss the case due to lack of standing.
Ms. Kubitschek argued no case or controversy exists between the parties.
Justice Ginsburg questioned why the official would face liability without a challenge.
Justice Kennedy asked about the official's current occupation and record details.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The Court examines if a live controversy exists when a plaintiff abandons a specific legal claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 1, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to dismiss the case for lack of standing.
the opposing sides want the Court to review the qualified immunity decision.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-45
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue no case or controversy exists because the plaintiff dropped the claim.
the opposing sides argue the lower court ruling remains reviewable despite the dropped claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-45
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked how a judgment would affect the legal relationship between the parties.
Justice Scalia questioned reviewability when Article III requirements are not met.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal court jurisdiction over abandoned claims. It clarifies when a dispute becomes moot. It impacts the development of constitutional precedent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-45
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 3-23 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-49
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 17, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 29-51 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 29-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-45
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.