October Term 2013 · Docket 12-1281
Can the President fill vacancies during Senate pro forma sessions?
The dispute centers on whether the President may make recess appointments while the Senate holds brief pro forma sessions.
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
General Verrilli argued that limiting appointments would undermine presidential authority.
Mr. Estrada argued that the Senate decides when it is in recess.
Mr. Francisco argued that the Senate triggers the appointment power.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 51-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the Recess Appointments Clause. It asks if the President can appoint officials when the Senate technically remains in session.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 51-41
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 13, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-49
What each side wants
The Board wants the Court to uphold the President's recess appointments.
the opposing side wants the Court to invalidate those appointments.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 51-41
What each side says
The Board argues that historical practice supports broad presidential appointment power.
the opposing side argues that the Senate controls its own recess status.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 51-41
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the opposing side would invalidate past appointments.
Justice Scalia asked if practice overrides clear constitutional text.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-17
Why it matters
This case defines the balance of power between the President and the Senate. It determines how quickly the executive branch can fill key vacancies. The outcome shapes the operational capacity of federal agencies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 51-41
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 49-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 23-25 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 23-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 3-39 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 3-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 35-49
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 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 51-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 41, lines 11-31 — Transcript, file page 41, lines 11-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 51-41 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 51-41
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.