October Term 2012 · Docket 11-10362
Does the law enforcement proviso cover prison guards?
the sides that brought the case seek a damages waiver for guard conduct. The government argues the waiver excludes non-investigative staff.
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
Mr. Paolella argued the waiver language is clear and unambiguous.
Mr. Bucholtz argued the proviso limits coverage to investigative officers.
Justice Scalia questioned the exclusion of specific torts from the waiver.
Justice Sotomayor pressed counsel on the boundaries of the statutory term.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of a federal tort waiver. It asks if prison guards qualify as law enforcement officers under the statute.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-49
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 19, 2013.
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 58, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-15
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want a damages waiver for guard conduct.
The government wants to exclude non-investigative staff from the waiver.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-49
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute textually covers all law enforcement officers.
The government argues the proviso limits coverage to investigative officers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-49
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked why the statute excludes libel and slander.
Justice Sotomayor asked counsel to define the boundaries of the waiver.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 51-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-5
Why it matters
The outcome defines which federal employees face civil liability. It determines the scope of sovereign immunity waivers for tort claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-49
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 51-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 51-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-19 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-5 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-5
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 13, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-49
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.