October Term 2017 · Docket 16-285
Do federal labor laws void individual arbitration agreements?
Employers argue the Federal Arbitration Act enforces individual arbitration clauses. Workers argue the National Labor Relations Act protects collective action rights.
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
Paul Clement argued the Federal Arbitration Act provides a clear path for enforcement.
He stated that other federal statutes do not automatically invalidate these agreements.
David Ortiz noted that approximately sixty million employees have mandatory arbitration contracts.
He emphasized the widespread impact of these agreements on the private workforce.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 16-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 16-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 22-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 22-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 12-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-10 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 12-29 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 12-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-32 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-12 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 32-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-8 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests whether the Federal Arbitration Act overrides the National Labor Relations Act. The dispute centers on mandatory individual arbitration clauses in employment contracts. the sides that brought the case seek to enforce these agreements. the opposing sides seek to void them as illegal restraints on concerted activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 12-29 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 12-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-32 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 2, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 32-29
What each side wants
the sides that brought the case want the Court to enforce individual arbitration agreements under the Federal Arbitration Act.
the opposing sides want the Court to invalidate these agreements under the National Labor Relations Act.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 12-29 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 12-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-32 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-31
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the Federal Arbitration Act mandates enforcement of valid arbitration contracts.
the opposing sides argue the National Labor Relations Act protects the right to act together.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 12-29 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 12-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-32 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-31
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked if the Federal Arbitration Act originally targeted commercial merchant bargains.
Justice Kennedy asked if seeking arbitration as a class differs from individual arbitration.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 16-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 16-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 22-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 22-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 12-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-10 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-12 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 32-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-8 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-17
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether millions of workers can join collective legal actions. It defines the scope of federal labor protections against mandatory arbitration clauses. The outcome shapes the balance between contract enforcement and collective bargaining rights.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 12-29 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 12-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-32 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-31
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 11, lines 16-29 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 16-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-28 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 22-31 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 22-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 12-7 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 12-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 33-10 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 33-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 12-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 12-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-8 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 27-12 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 27-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 32-29 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 32-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 20-23 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 20-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 31-20 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 31-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 7-8 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 7-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 27-17
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 22, lines 12-29 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 12-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-32 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 22, lines 12-29 — Transcript, file page 22, lines 12-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 11-32 — Transcript, file page 35, lines 11-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 18-1 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 18-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 13-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 13-31
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.