October Term 2013 · Docket 12-815
Does Younger abstention bar federal review of state agency orders?
Sprint argues federal courts must dismiss challenges to state agency orders. Windstream argues federal courts must hear these claims.
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
Sprint's counsel warned against broadening Younger abstention.
Windstream's counsel argued federal courts must retain jurisdiction.
justice_question
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- 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 13-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-43
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Sprint seeks dismissal of Windstream's federal lawsuit. Windstream seeks a federal court ruling on its claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 5, 2013.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Sprint wants the federal court to dismiss the case.
Windstream wants the federal court to hear the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
What each side says
Sprint argues Younger abstention applies to state agency proceedings.
Windstream argues Younger abstention does not apply to these proceedings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how to define coercive proceedings.
Justice Kennedy asked if Burford abstention applies here.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 41-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-43
Why it matters
This case defines federal court access to state agency disputes. It shapes the balance between state and federal judicial power.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
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 41-7 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 41-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-19
- 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 13-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 29-43
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 21, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 13-1 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 13-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
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.