October Term 2014 · Docket 13-719
Can a federal court require proof before accepting a case removal?
the sides that brought the case argue a district court wrongly demanded evidence to accept a case removal. the opposing sides claim the court acted within its authority.
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. Berreth argued Section 1446(a) requires a short and plain statement of grounds.
Mr. Sharp argued Section 1447(d) bars Supreme Court review of the remand order.
Justice Roberts asked why dissenters did not explain their reasoning if the Tenth Circuit relied on different grounds.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the standard for removing a lawsuit from state to federal court. the sides that brought the case argue the law requires only a statement of grounds. the opposing sides argue the court needed proof to verify jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Supreme Court to reverse the remand order.
the opposing sides want the Supreme Court to affirm the remand order.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Section 1446(a) sets a pleading standard, not a proof requirement.
the opposing sides argue the district court properly required evidence to verify jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if attorneys could seek a mandate to block evidence demands.
Justice Alito asked if any party claimed the decision relied on other reasons.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-31
Why it matters
This dispute defines the burden of proof for removing cases to federal court. It affects how quickly parties can access federal tribunals. It shapes the initial procedural steps in federal litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
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 21-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-47 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-33 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 45-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 45-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-31
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 35-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 35-3 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 35-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-39 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-39
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.