October Term 2013 · Docket 12-1146
Does the Clean Air Act force EPA to regulate greenhouse gases from stationary sources?
the sides that brought the case argue the statute does not cover greenhouse gases. EPA argues the law requires regulation.
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
Keisler argued the situation is unprecedented.
Verrilli argued EPA is managing a transition.
Mitchell noted both sides agree on two issues.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether the Clean Air Act mandates greenhouse gas regulation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 27-23
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 24, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-41
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to reject EPA's greenhouse gas rules.
EPA wants the Court to uphold its regulatory authority.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 27-23
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute does not cover greenhouse gases.
EPA argues the statute requires regulating these pollutants.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 27-23
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked how the phrase any air pollutant applies.
Justice Sotomayor asked why the agency should receive deference.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether factories must cut emissions. It shapes national climate policy. It affects industrial compliance costs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 27-23
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 25-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-29 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-33 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 47-13 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 47-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-41 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 7-41 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 7-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-41 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 3-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 3-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-11
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 33, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 19-13 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 19-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 51-31 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 51-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-15 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-5 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 27-23
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.