October Term 2014 · Docket 13-1371
Does the Fair Housing Act ban policies with unequal racial effects?
Texas argues the law targets only intent. Inclusive Communities argues it bans unequal outcomes.
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
Texas argues the Fair Housing Act requires proof of intent.
Inclusive Communities argues the law bans policies with unequal effects.
Justice Kagan questioned the statutory language regarding adverse effects.
Justice Ginsburg asked about the congressional goal of ending discrimination.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-49
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the Fair Housing Act. Texas claims the statute requires proof of intent. Inclusive Communities claims the statute covers disparate impact.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 9-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 21, 2015.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
What each side wants
Texas wants the Court to limit the law to intentional discrimination.
Inclusive Communities wants the Court to uphold liability for unequal effects.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 9-15
What each side says
Texas argues the statutory text lacks effects-based language.
Inclusive Communities argues the exemptions presuppose disparate impact liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 9-15
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if a specific point appeared in the brief.
Justice Kagan questioned the distinction between statutory phrasing and legal effect.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 3-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-49
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of federal fair housing protections. It determines whether policies with unequal racial outcomes violate the law. The outcome shapes housing policy nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 9-15
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 3-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 3-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 9-27 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 9-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 47-3 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 47-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-33 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 19-49
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 25, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 9-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 21-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 37, lines 39-23 — Transcript, file page 37, lines 39-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 51, lines 9-15 — Transcript, file page 51, lines 9-15
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.