October Term 2010 · Docket 10-779
Does Vermont's ban on selling doctor prescription data violate the First Amendment?
Vermont argues the law protects doctor privacy. IMS Health argues the law restricts speech.
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
Bridget Asay argued the law protects doctor autonomy.
She stated patient information is protected under HIPAA.
IMS Health argued the law restricts speech.
They referenced the red brief for statutory findings.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Vermont enacted a law restricting the sale of prescription data. IMS Health challenged the law in federal court. The lower court ruled in favor of IMS Health. Vermont appealed to the Supreme Court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 26, 2011.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-31
What each side wants
Vermont wants the law upheld to protect doctor autonomy.
IMS Health wants the law struck down to sell data freely.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-41
What each side says
Vermont argues the law protects physician privacy and autonomy.
IMS Health argues the law restricts commercial speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-41
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if doctors can simply refuse to talk to marketers.
Justice Alito asked if the statute permits selling data to universities.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
Why it matters
The case defines the scope of state power over commercial data. It balances privacy rights against free speech protections. The outcome shapes how states regulate information markets.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-41
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 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 17-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 17-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-23
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 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 9-5 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 9-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 41-25 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 41-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 13-41 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 13-41
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.