October Term 2012 · Docket 11-556
Who counts as a supervisor under Title VII?
The dispute centers on whether an employee with limited authority over daily tasks qualifies as a supervisor for liability purposes.
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. Ortiz argued the case concerns who counts as a supervisor. He stated the side that brought the case's position on the legal standard.
Mr. Garre argued the lower court's judgment should stand. He claimed the record showed the employees lacked supervisory authority.
Ms. Davis described specific incidents. She mentioned an elevator block and alleged use of racial slurs.
Justice Alito questioned the clarity of the proposed legal standard. He noted courts might struggle to apply it consistently.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case asks how much power an employee needs to be considered a supervisor. The lower court found the accused employee lacked this power. the side that brought the case argues this standard is too narrow.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 26, 2012.
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 55, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 43-11
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the lower court's finding overturned. They argue the accused employee had enough power to be a supervisor.
the opposing side wants the lower court's finding kept. They argue the accused employee lacked the necessary supervisory power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that assigning daily tasks makes an employee a supervisor. They claim this standard captures real workplace power.
the opposing side argues that only employees with major authority are supervisors. They claim the side that brought the case's standard is too broad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked for concrete examples of supervisory authority in the record.
Justice Alito asked for a definition of the materially augments rule. He asked what assigning daily tasks must achieve to count as supervisory power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 47-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-31
Why it matters
This case defines who counts as a supervisor under Title VII. It determines when employers face liability for employee harassment. It clarifies the line between supervisors and regular employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
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 47-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 47-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 45-5
- 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 41-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 43-11 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 43-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 3-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-31
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 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 31-31 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 31-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 13-17
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.