October Term 2014 · Docket 13-935
Can a bankruptcy court decide a state law claim against a third party?
The dispute centers on whether Congress can authorize bankruptcy judges to resolve state law claims that seek to add third-party property to a debtor's estate.
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
Catherine Steege argued the claim meets the test for bankruptcy court jurisdiction.
She stated the claim stems from the bankruptcy itself.
She noted the debtor holds actual possession of the property.
Mr. Gannon agreed with the sides that brought the case on the questions presented.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the limits of bankruptcy court power. The core issue is whether Article III of the Constitution prevents Congress from allowing these courts to decide certain state law claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 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 61, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-17
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Supreme Court to affirm the bankruptcy court's authority to decide the state law claim.
the opposing side wants the Supreme Court to reverse the lower court and bar the bankruptcy judge from deciding the claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-37
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the claim stems directly from the bankruptcy case, satisfying the constitutional test for bankruptcy court jurisdiction.
the opposing side argues the claim seeks third-party property, which Congress cannot remove from Article III court jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-37
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the bankruptcy court could have subpoenaed the third party to appear.
Justice Breyer asked if the claim regarding a living trust is legally distinct from other third-party property claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-7
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary between federal bankruptcy courts and Article III courts. It determines which judges can resolve disputes over property belonging to third parties. The outcome shapes the efficiency and constitutional limits of the federal bankruptcy system.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-37
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 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 21-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 21-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 39-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 39-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 3-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-13 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-7
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 17, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-31 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 41-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 41-37
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.