October Term 2015 · Docket 14-614
Can Maryland force utilities to buy power from a specific plant?
Maryland argues it can direct utility purchases. Talen argues this violates federal law.
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
Maryland's lawyer said states control utility purchasing.
Talen's lawyer said the state targeted federal markets.
justice_kagan_questioned_whether_ferc_jurisdiction_ends_the_case
chief_justice_roberts_asked_why_maryland_acted_if_prices_did_not_drop
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 24-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 24-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Maryland wants to keep a local power plant running. Talen wants to stop this state mandate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 24-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 24-5
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 24, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
What each side wants
Maryland wants to keep its utility purchase mandate.
Talen wants the Court to strike down the mandate.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 24-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 24-5
What each side says
Maryland argues it controls local utility purchasing decisions.
Talen argues the state interfered with federal markets.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 24-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 24-5
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked if federal jurisdiction ends the case.
Chief Justice Roberts asked why Maryland acted if prices did not drop.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-50
Why it matters
States must choose between local energy goals and federal market rules.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 24-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 24-5
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 8-22 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 30-1 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 30-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-50
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 18, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 24-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 24-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 10-46 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 10-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 34-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 47, lines 22-40 — Transcript, file page 47, lines 22-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-12 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 24-5 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 24-5
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.