October Term 2013 · Docket 12-1200
Can a bankruptcy judge decide a fraud claim if both sides agree?
The dispute centers on whether a bankruptcy judge can resolve a fraud claim when both parties consent to that judge's authority.
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
EBIA claims the judge lacked authority under the Constitution.
Arkison claims consent validates the judge's decision.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the importance of the judge's signature.
Justice Breyer focused on congressional intent for future cases.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of bankruptcy judge power. The core issue is whether consent allows a non-Article III judge to decide a fraud claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-9
What each side wants
EBIA wants the judgment set aside because the judge lacked constitutional authority.
Arkison wants the judgment to stand because both parties agreed to the judge's role.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-15
What each side says
EBIA argues the judge violated separation of powers by deciding a fraud claim.
Arkison argues consent allows a bankruptcy judge to decide the fraud claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-15
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the judge's signature makes a difference.
Justice Breyer asked about congressional intent in future cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of bankruptcy judge authority. It determines if consent can override constitutional limits on judicial power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-15
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 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 33-9 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 33-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-39 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 37-43
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 24, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 25-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 25-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 45, lines 27-23 — Transcript, file page 45, lines 27-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 11-15
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.