October Term 2016 · Docket 15-1248
Who decides if the EEOC subpoena is too broad?
McLane seeks a strict legal standard to limit EEOC subpoenas. The agency argues courts must defer to its investigative choices.
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
Ms. Ho argued the statutory structure favors an abuse of discretion review.
Mr. Kinnaird argued the agency holds sole discretion over evidence relevance.
Justice Ginsburg noted subpoena enforcement comes to the court cold.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-18
- 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 24-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-36
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the standard of review for EEOC subpoenas. McLane wants courts to strictly check agency demands. The EEOC wants courts to defer to its investigative judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-18
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 21, 2017.
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
McLane wants a strict legal standard to limit EEOC subpoenas.
The EEOC wants courts to defer to its investigative judgment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-18
What each side says
McLane argues historical and functional considerations support an abuse of discretion standard.
The EEOC argues Congress vested the agency, not the court, with relevance discretion.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-18
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the only issue is the failure to order release.
Justice Breyer asked what stops the agency from demanding every document.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 20-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 36-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-36
Why it matters
This case defines the balance between agency power and business privacy. It sets the standard for reviewing federal investigative subpoenas. The outcome shapes future civil rights enforcement efforts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-18
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 20-50 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 20-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 26-40 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 26-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 44-44 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 44-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 36-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 36-36
- 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 24-42 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-46 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 30-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 30-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-38 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 14-20 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 14-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 10-36 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 10-36
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 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 32-40 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 32-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 20-6 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 20-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-18
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.