October Term 2016 · Docket 16-399
Can a federal employee sue in district court without finishing internal discrimination steps?
The dispute centers on whether a federal employee must complete internal discrimination remedies before a district court can hear a mixed civil service case.
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. Landau argued that the parties agree mixed cases can go to district court.
Mr. Fletcher argued that the Federal Circuit generally has exclusive jurisdiction over Board decisions.
Mr. Fletcher noted that a specific statute carves out an exception for mixed cases.
Mr. Landau stated that the relevant agency interprets the statute similarly to the side that brought the case's view.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-24
- 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 28-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-34 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case involves a federal employee who claims discrimination and an adverse civil service action. The core legal question is whether the employee must exhaust internal discrimination remedies before filing suit in federal district court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-24
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 17, 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 63, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 26-28
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the district court to hear the case immediately without requiring completed internal discrimination steps.
the opposing side wants the employee to finish all internal discrimination remedies before the district court can act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-24
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that the statute allows district courts to hear mixed cases even if internal discrimination steps are incomplete.
the opposing side argues that the government requires exhaustion of internal discrimination remedies before district court jurisdiction attaches.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-24
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the employee must exhaust internal remedies before going to district court.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the employee could skip the Board and go straight to district court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 16-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 28-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-34 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
Why it matters
This case determines the procedural path for federal employees alleging discrimination and adverse actions. It defines when district courts gain jurisdiction over mixed civil service cases. The outcome shapes the balance between agency review and judicial access for federal workers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-24
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 16-24 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 16-24
- 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 28-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 28-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-50 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 10-34 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 10-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 24-28 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 24-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 32-34 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 32-34
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 28, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 14-36 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 14-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 38-24 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 38-24
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.