October Term 2016 · Docket 15-1391
Can New York ban merchants from telling customers credit cards cost more?
New York merchants want to tell customers credit cards cost more. The state says this law bans that pricing practice.
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. Gupta argued the law suppresses the message that cards cost more.
Mr. Wu argued the statute refers only to a pricing practice.
Justice Kagan questioned whether the law restricts specific speech.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 40-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 40-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-38
- 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 22-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 26-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 26-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-4
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
New York law bans sellers from adding a fee to credit card purchases. Merchants say this law stops them from telling customers the truth about card costs. The state says the law only controls pricing, not speech.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 40-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 40-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 10, 2017.
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 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
What each side wants
Merchants want to tell customers credit cards cost more.
The state wants to keep the surcharge ban in place.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 40-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 40-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
What each side says
Merchants argue the law bans truthful speech about card costs.
The state argues the law only regulates a pricing practice.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 40-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 40-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
What the justices asked
Justice Kagan asked what specific speech the law restricts.
Justice Kagan asked how the law violates the Constitution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-38
- 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 22-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 26-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 26-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-4
Why it matters
This case defines the line between price regulation and free speech. It affects how merchants communicate costs to consumers. It shapes state power to control commercial messaging.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 40-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 40-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
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 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 32-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 36-38
- 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 22-34 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 26-1 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 26-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 6-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 16-20 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 16-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 24-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 24-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 24-32 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 24-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 12-14 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 12-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 4-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 4-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 52-4
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 1, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 40-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 40-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 1, lines 18-6 — Transcript, file page 1, lines 18-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 46-48 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 46-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-34 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 40-10 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 40-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 4-14 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 4-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 10-10
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.