October Term 2012 · Docket 11-798
Does the FAAAA preemption clause bar port access rules?
Truckers claim federal law voids port access rules. The city argues these rules are valid contracts.
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
Truckers cite the FAAAA text and the Castle precedent.
The city compares port rules to standard private property contracts.
Justices probe the distinction between ports and airfields.
Justices examine the scope of the market participant exception.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-5
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether federal law preempts local port access rules. Truckers argue the FAAAA bars these rules. The city argues the rules are private contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 16, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
What each side wants
Truckers want the Court to strike down the port access rules.
The city wants the Court to uphold the port access rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-9
What each side says
Truckers argue the FAAAA preempts these local regulations.
The city argues the rules are private contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-9
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why Congress regulates ports differently than airfields.
Justice Sotomayor asked if the market participant exception exists.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-5
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal preemption over local port rules. It affects how cities manage commercial vehicle access. It clarifies the boundary between public regulation and private contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-9
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 25-31 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-5
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 19, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 9-9
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.