October Term 2013 · Docket 11-681
Can states force home-care workers to pay union fees?
Home-care workers challenge Illinois fees that fund union lobbying.
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. Messenger argued Illinois forces workers to pay fees.
He stated these fees fund petitions to the state.
He claimed this violates the First Amendment.
Mr. Smith explained the state's home-care decision ten years ago.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- 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 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Susan Watts and others sue Illinois. They claim forced union fees violate free speech. The state defends the fee structure. The Court must decide if Abood applies here.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 21, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 43-7
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the fee requirement struck down.
the opposing sides want the fee requirement upheld.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue these fees fund political lobbying.
the opposing sides argue the fees support collective bargaining.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked about the likelihood of specific bargaining topics.
Justice Kagan asked if the argument extends beyond this situation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of union fee mandates. It affects millions of public-sector workers. It shapes the balance between labor rights and free speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
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 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- 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 11-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 43-7 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 43-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 37-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 37-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 43-49
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 27, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 27-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 27-35
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.