October Term 2014 · Docket 13-975
Does a local denial letter need separate reasons?
T-Mobile argues local denials must include separate written reasons. The city argues the letter suffices.
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
T-Mobile argued the law requires separate written reasons.
The city argued the denial letter meets the requirement.
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 16, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
T-Mobile seeks a clear rule on written denial requirements. The city seeks to keep its current process valid.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-43
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 10, 2014.
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 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
What each side wants
T-Mobile wants a separate document stating denial reasons.
The city wants its denial letter to satisfy the law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-43
What each side says
T-Mobile argues the law requires a separate reason document.
The city argues the denial letter meets the legal standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-43
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if the lateness argument applies here.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if a later letter suffices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
Why it matters
This case defines how local governments must explain denials. It affects wireless infrastructure expansion nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-43
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 43-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 43-49
- 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 23-33 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 45-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-41 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 39-3 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 39-3
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 16, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 11-35 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 11-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-33 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 33-43
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.