October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1174
Can a district court block appeals by withholding a formal judgment?
the sides that brought the case seek to appeal a dismissal. the opposing sides argue the court withheld the judgment to prevent piecemeal appeals.
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
Mr. Goldstein argued the dismissal was final.
Mr. Waxman argued the court needed flexibility.
Justice Sotomayor questioned the impact on consolidated cases.
Justice Breyer raised concerns about procedural messes.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 28-14 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 28-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- 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 22-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-10
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether a district court can stop an appeal by refusing to enter a formal judgment. the sides that brought the case want to appeal a dismissal. the opposing sides want to keep the case in district court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 28-14 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 28-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-26
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 9, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 46-48
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want to appeal the dismissal immediately.
the opposing sides want to keep the case in district court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 28-14 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 28-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-26
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the dismissal is final and appealable.
the opposing sides argue the court withheld judgment to manage the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 28-14 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 28-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-26
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the Court could handle the issue itself.
Justice Breyer asked how parties find relevant rules without help.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-10
Why it matters
This dispute affects how parties access appellate review. It shapes the finality of district court orders. It impacts the management of complex litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 28-14 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 28-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-26
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 12-30 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-30
- 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 22-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 22-38 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 22-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-10
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 27, lines 28-14 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 28-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 28-14 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 28-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-26
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.