October Term 2016 · Docket 16-74
Does a church-affiliated hospital qualify as a church plan under ERISA?
Advocate Health Care Network argues its pension plan is a church plan. Stapleton argues the plan is not a church plan.
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
Ms. Blatt argued the statute exempts plans maintained by church-affiliated organizations.
Ms. Blatt stated the church does not have to fund these plans.
Justice Sotomayor noted Congress rejected a broader definition in an earlier version.
Justice Kagan suggested a simpler statutory language would have achieved the goal.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 38-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 38-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-48
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case concerns whether a pension plan maintained by a church-affiliated hospital is a church plan. The parties dispute the statutory definition of a church plan.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 38-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 38-26
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 27, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-44
What each side wants
Advocate Health Care Network wants the Court to hold the plan is a church plan.
Stapleton wants the Court to hold the plan is not a church plan.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 38-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 38-26
What each side says
Advocate Health Care Network argues the statute exempts plans maintained by church-affiliated organizations.
Stapleton argues the statute requires a church to establish the plan.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 38-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 38-26
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if this is the question the Court agreed to review.
Justice Sotomayor asked if Congress intended to cover non-profit corporations like hospitals.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-48
Why it matters
The outcome determines which pension plans receive ERISA exemptions. It affects the funding obligations of church-affiliated hospitals. It defines the scope of federal labor law for religious non-profits.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 38-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 38-26
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 42-48 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 24-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 24-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 52-12 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 52-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 44-1 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 44-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 16-16 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 16-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 42-20 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 42-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-12 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 20-20 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 20-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 28-34 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 28-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 36-6 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 36-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 30-48 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 30-48
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 20, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 38-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 38-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 20, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-26 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 38-6 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 38-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 38-26 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 38-26
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.