October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1080
Can a government-created corporation regulate private competitors?
Railroads challenge a law that lets Amtrak set safety rules for private carriers.
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
Mr. Gannon argued the lower court misread the statute. He stated the law does not delegate regulatory authority to a private entity. He rejected the claim that Amtrak acts as a government regulator.
Mr. Dupree argued the Constitution forbids this structure. He stated Congress cannot create a corporation and give it regulatory power. He argued this violates the separation of powers.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-14
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on whether Amtrak acts as a government regulator. The railroads argue this violates the Constitution. The government argues Amtrak is a private entity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 8, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
The railroads want the law struck down as unconstitutional.
The government wants the law upheld as valid.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
What each side says
The railroads argue Congress cannot create a corporation and give it regulatory power over competitors.
The government argues the statute does not delegate regulatory authority to a private entity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if meeting standards stops an agency from initiating a review.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if calling Amtrak governmental solves the legal issue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-14
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of corporate regulatory power. It determines whether government-created entities can police private markets. The outcome shapes the balance between public mandates and private competition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
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 10-10 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 10-24 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 10-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 26-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 26-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-18 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-14
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 26, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 52-26 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 52-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-48 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-48
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.