October Term 2015 · Docket 14-770
Can Congress pass a law that applies only to one specific pending lawsuit?
the sides that brought the case argue a statute targeting a single case violates the Constitution. the opposing sides claim Congress may amend laws for pending cases.
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
Mr. Lamken argued that Congress has never limited a statute to one specific case.
Mr. Kneedler argued that Congress may amend laws to apply to pending cases.
Mr. Olson argued that the case involves a particular outcome and property.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 16-4 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 16-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 40-4 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 40-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 4-46 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 4-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-14
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case involves a statute that targets a specific pending lawsuit. The core dispute is whether Congress can limit a law's effect to one case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 16-4 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 16-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 40-4 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 40-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 4-46 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 4-46
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 13, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-48
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down the statute as unconstitutional.
the opposing sides want the Court to uphold the statute and apply it to the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 16-4 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 16-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 40-4 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 40-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 4-46 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 4-46
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue Congress has never enacted a statute limited to one specific pending case.
the opposing sides argue Congress may amend laws to apply to pending cases based on precedent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 16-4 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 16-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 40-4 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 40-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 4-46 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 4-46
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked what would happen if Congress specified nineteen cases.
Justice Kennedy asked if the principle applies to nineteen cases or three unrelated cases.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-14
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of congressional power over pending litigation. It determines whether Congress can target specific lawsuits with new laws.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 16-4 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 16-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 40-4 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 40-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 4-46 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 4-46
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 3, lines 34-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 34-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 52-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 52-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 44-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 44-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 52-8 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 52-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 48-1 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 48-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 40-48 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 40-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 46-50 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 46-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-30 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 8-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 8-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 20-22 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 20-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-38 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 12-14
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 26, lines 16-4 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 16-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 40-4 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 40-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 4-46 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 4-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 16-4 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 16-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 44, lines 40-4 — Transcript, file page 44, lines 40-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 4-46 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 4-46
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.