October Term 2011 · Docket 10-1195
Can private telemarketing claims go to federal court?
The dispute centers on whether federal courts have authority to hear private claims under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
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
Mims argues federal jurisdiction statutes cover all federal law claims.
Arrow Financial argues Congress did not intend federal courts to hear these claims.
Justice Breyer asked if the statute implies a specific meaning.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the claim can proceed in federal court.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- 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 33-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of federal court power over specific consumer protection claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 28, 2011.
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 59, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-33
What each side wants
Mims wants federal courts to hear private TCPA claims.
Arrow Financial wants federal courts to reject these private claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-15
What each side says
Mims argues federal jurisdiction statutes cover all federal law claims.
Arrow Financial argues Congress did not intend federal courts to hear these claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-15
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if the statute implies a specific meaning.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the claim can proceed in federal court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
Why it matters
This determines where consumers sue for unwanted calls. It shapes the balance between state and federal judicial power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-15
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 51-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-7
- 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 33-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-13 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-9
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 26, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 33-1 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 33-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 15-15
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.