October Term 2011 · Docket 10-1121
Does a union's refund notice satisfy a court order?
the sides that brought the case seek to reinstate a district court judgment. the opposing sides ask the Court to dismiss the case as moot.
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. Young stated the underlying facts are important before addressing mootness.
Mr. Young argued the notice must comport with the district court judgment.
Mr. Collins suggested vacating the court of appeals decision to reinstate the lower judgment.
Justice Roberts asked why the notice content inadequacy matters for opt-out elections.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether a union's notice met a specific court order. the sides that brought the case want the lower court judgment reinstated. the opposing sides want the case dismissed because the assessment is complete.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 3-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2012.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the district court judgment reinstated.
the opposing sides want the case dismissed as moot.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 3-23
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the notice failed the district court's specific requirements.
the opposing sides argue the completed assessment makes the case moot.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 3-23
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked about the mootness question first.
Justice Alito asked if different requirements preserve the case as a live controversy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
Why it matters
This case defines the standard for union refund notices. It clarifies when a completed assessment ends a legal dispute. It sets the bar for satisfying court orders regarding member communications.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 3-23
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 7-11
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 39-49 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 35-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 35-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 3-23
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.