October Term 2013 · Docket 13-483
Does a public employee's compelled testimony count as job duties?
A fired employee claims retaliation for grand jury testimony. His employer argues the speech falls within his job duties.
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
Lane's attorney stated the firing followed grand jury testimony.
Franks' attorney cited the government's interest in managing staff.
questions_and_answers
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-37
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether compelled testimony counts as job duties. This status affects First Amendment protection for public employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 28, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Lane wants a ruling that his testimony was protected speech.
Franks wants a ruling that the testimony was part of his job.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
What each side says
Lane argues compelled testimony is not a job duty.
Franks argues the government manages employees during their work.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if bad circuit precedent excuses the employee.
Justice Alito asked when subpoenaed testimony leaves job scope.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-37
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary between job duties and protected speech. This boundary shapes retaliation claims for public employees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
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 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 43-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 33-37
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 18, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 7-39 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 7-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 43-39 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 43-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 17-33
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.