October Term 2012 · Docket 12-17
Does Virginia's public records law violate the Privileges and Immunities Clause?
A private citizen challenges Virginia's ban on out-of-state access to public records.
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
the sides that brought the case argue Virginia's law discriminates against non-residents.
the opposing sides argue the state may limit records access.
questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-29
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Virginia restricts public records access to residents. the sides that brought the case claim this violates the Constitution. the opposing sides defend the state's policy.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 20, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down Virginia's law.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold Virginia's law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the law discriminates against non-residents.
the opposing sides argue the state may limit records access.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a non-resident could hire a resident to request records.
Justice Ginsburg asked how much the law impacts the side that brought the case's business.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-29
Why it matters
The case defines state power over public information. It affects interstate commerce and equal access to government data.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
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 35-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 49-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 49-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-29
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 29, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 51-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-33
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.