October Term 2010 · Docket 10-179
Can a bankruptcy judge decide a state-law fraud claim?
The dispute centers on whether a bankruptcy judge can resolve a state-law fraud claim filed against a debtor.
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. Richland stated that Pierce Marshall filed a claim in Vickie Marshall's bankruptcy case.
Mr. Englert listed three possible grounds for the lower court's decision, including one constitutional ground.
Mr. Stewart addressed the unconstitutional conditions doctrine and the choice between two constitutional rights.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-48 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-52
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of bankruptcy court power. The core issue is whether these judges can decide state-law claims without violating the Constitution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-48 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
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 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Supreme Court to strike down the lower court's decision.
the opposing side wants the Supreme Court to keep the lower court's decision in place.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-48 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the bankruptcy judge lacks constitutional power to decide this state-law claim.
the opposing side argues the bankruptcy judge has statutory and constitutional authority to decide this claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-48 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked for the constitutional basis for the bankruptcy court's power.
Justice Sotomayor questioned if a bankruptcy court can adjudicate proof of claims without violating Article III.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 6-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-52
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between bankruptcy judges and Article III judges. It determines who decides state-law claims in bankruptcy. The outcome shapes the structure of the federal judiciary.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-48 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
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 6-12 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 6-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 48-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 48-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 24-4 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 24-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-52
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 16, lines 10-48 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 10-48 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 10-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 10-16 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 10-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-46 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-46
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.