October Term 2017 · Docket 16-1466
Can states force public employees to pay union fees?
the sides that brought the case seek to end mandatory agency fees. the opposing sides defend the practice as essential for labor peace.
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
the sides that brought the case claim Abood conflicts with Harris and Knox regarding speech and association.
the opposing sides assert that the government can regulate employment decisions and speech policies.
Justice Breyer questioned how far back the Court should look for precedent.
Justice Sotomayor noted the government can fire employees for off-policy speech.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether compulsory union fees violate free speech rights. the sides that brought the case argue the fees compel support for political speech. the opposing sides claim the fees prevent free-riding and maintain stable government operations.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 26, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-47
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to strike down mandatory agency fees for public employees.
the opposing sides want the Court to preserve the legal framework allowing compulsory union fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue that Abood failed to apply proper First Amendment scrutiny to compelled speech.
the opposing sides argue that the government has a compelling interest in regulating employment and preventing free-riding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked how agency fees differ from student activity fees and bar association payments.
Justice Kennedy asked if unions have ever committed to viewpoint neutrality in their history.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 25-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-51
Why it matters
The outcome determines whether public employees must fund union political speech. It defines the boundary between compelled association and protected free expression in the public sector.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
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 25-43 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 25-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 29-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 29-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 21-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 21-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-17 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-43 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-27 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-51
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 23, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 23, lines 49-29 — Transcript, file page 23, lines 49-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 36, lines 53-51 — Transcript, file page 36, lines 53-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-49 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 35-33 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 35-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 45-47
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.