October Term 2015 · Docket 14-1418
Does the accommodation violate religious freedom?
Religious employers challenge a rule requiring them to notify insurers about contraceptive coverage.
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
General Verrilli asserted the accommodation strikes a sensible balance.
Mr. Clement stated the sides that brought the case face a dilemma the Act does not allow.
Mr. Francisco noted the government has the same interest for all employees.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 50-20 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 50-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 24-4 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 24-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 12-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 12-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-24 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 48-46 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 48-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-10
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
the sides that brought the case seek a ruling that the accommodation violates their religious liberty. The government argues the rule balances interests properly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 50-20 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 50-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 48-46 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 48-46
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 23, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-24 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-20
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the accommodation.
The government wants the Court to uphold the accommodation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 50-20 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 50-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 48-46 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 48-46
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the accommodation forces them to participate in a system they find objectionable.
The government argues the accommodation strikes a sensible balance between liberty and interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 50-20 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 50-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 48-46 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 48-46
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked how the situation differs from military service.
Justice Kagan asked if a sincere belief against objecting controls the analysis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 14-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 24-4 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 24-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 12-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 12-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-24 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-10
Why it matters
The outcome defines the limits of religious exemptions in federal health regulations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 50-20 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 50-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 48-46 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 48-46
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 14-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 14-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 36-48 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 36-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 38-8 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 38-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 24-4 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 24-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 12-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 12-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 40-24 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 40-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 40-14 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 40-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 26-46 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 26-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 32-38 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 32-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 50-10 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 50-10
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 25, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 50-20 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 50-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 48-46 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 48-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-34 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 50-20 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 50-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 6-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 6-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 22-1 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 22-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 86, lines 48-46 — Transcript, file page 86, lines 48-46
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.