October Term 2016 · Docket 14-1055
Does a right-to-sue clause grant federal jurisdiction?
Parties dispute whether a statutory right to sue creates federal subject-matter jurisdiction.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
the sides that brought the case argue the phrase implies an independent jurisdictional source.
the opposing sides argue the phrase does not create federal jurisdiction.
questions
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 24-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 10-50 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 10-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- 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 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests if a right-to-sue clause grants federal jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 10-50 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 10-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 8, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the clause to grant federal jurisdiction.
the opposing sides want the clause to deny federal jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 10-50 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 10-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the phrase implies an independent jurisdictional source.
the opposing sides argue the phrase does not create federal jurisdiction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 10-50 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 10-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if a right-to-sue differs from a cause of action.
Justice Breyer asked if legislative history supports the sides that brought the case' view.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 24-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
Why it matters
The outcome defines federal court access for statutory claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 10-50 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 10-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
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 12, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-20 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 24-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 24-38
- 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 8-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 42-10 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 42-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-42 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 12-28 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 12-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 44-50 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 44-50
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 16, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 10-50 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 10-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 4-8 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 4-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 10-50 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 10-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-6
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.