October Term 2017 · Docket 15-1509
How should appellate courts review bankruptcy findings on arm's length transactions?
Parties dispute whether appellate courts must reweigh evidence or defer to trial judges on arm's length status.
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. Cross argued the case presents a mixed question of law and fact.
Mr. Geyser argued that appellate review requires recreating the entire evidentiary record.
Ms. Goodspeed argued that the debate centers on understanding the bankruptcy court's finding.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the standard of review for mixed questions of law and fact in bankruptcy. The core issue is whether appellate courts should independently assess evidence or defer to the trial judge's findings.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-7
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 31, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-21
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want appellate courts to defer to trial judges on factual findings.
the opposing sides want appellate courts to independently review the evidence.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-7
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue that recreating the evidentiary record wastes judicial resources.
the opposing sides argue that the legal standard requires independent appellate assessment.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-7
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why the standard matters if the outcome is unchanged.
Justice Kennedy asked if parties agree on the elements of arm's length transactions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-11
Why it matters
This dispute determines how much weight appellate courts give to trial judges. It affects the finality of bankruptcy decisions. It shapes the balance between judicial efficiency and error correction.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-7
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 31-1 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 31-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 53-7 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 53-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 53-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 53-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 23-33 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 23-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 47-51 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 47-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 53-11
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 33, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 33, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 13-47 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 13-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 35-49 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 35-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 25-7 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 25-7
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.