October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1019
Can courts review EEOC conciliation efforts?
Mach Mining seeks judicial review of EEOC settlement attempts. The EEOC argues courts lack authority to inspect these private negotiations.
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
Mach Mining's counsel argued Title VII prohibits suits without prior conciliation attempts.
The EEOC's counsel argued the Seventh Circuit correctly rejected broad judicial review.
Justice Kennedy noted the government's theory lacked strong case law support.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether federal courts can examine the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's pre-suit conciliation efforts. Mach Mining argues Title VII requires this modest inquiry. The EEOC contends the statute grants it exclusive discretion over settlement terms.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-1
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 13, 2015.
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 66, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-3
What each side wants
Mach Mining wants courts to verify the EEOC attempted good-faith conciliation.
The EEOC wants courts to defer entirely to its internal settlement decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-1
What each side says
Mach Mining argues Title VII mandates a modest judicial inquiry into conciliation efforts.
The EEOC argues the statute grants it exclusive prerogative to define acceptable offers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-1
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia questioned whether the EEOC could act in bad faith during conciliation.
Justice Kagan asked if the statute clearly gives the EEOC sole authority over offers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-3
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of judicial oversight over federal agency enforcement. It determines whether private employers face unchecked administrative power. The outcome shapes the balance between agency discretion and statutory accountability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-1
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 17-19 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 3-5 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 3-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 45-9 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 45-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 51-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 51-3
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 29, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-35 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 47-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 47-1
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.